Garden Bed Revamp on Wellington (REVISION #2) Tues – 9/27- 6:02 pm

BEFORE

It may not look like it needs work. But we are transforming a bed, to bare bones, for planting an assortment of new flowering perennials. Our homeowner has asked us to make the selections. Along with all her flowering planters it’s going to look fresher and very much like a true flowers garden. Minus all the Creeping Ivy and Vinca Vines. And we are resetting all the brick borders and laying newspaper on the bank, covering it with topsoil to prevent more weed from returning. And we will mulch well.

And the bed with the large bark chips we are taking them out, because she wants to make it a Pansy bed. So we need some new garden soil and an assortment of Pansies and finally a topper of fresh shredded hardwood bark mulch. This  bed is a tribute to her Mom who loved Pansies.and directly behind them us the yellow rose bush we planted during the summer, also for her Mom

And we are also going to help reset newly purchased stair and border lighting upon completion.

It’s probably about a 6 to 8 hour project. We’ll see. Stay tuned for a final completion video.

Todays we took a photo collection of areas needing our magic. 

(REVISED) – Fri – 9/23 – 6:15 pm

Today we finished clearing the bed of Ivy and Vinca vines. We dug up the three spider grasses. We transplanted the largest to the other bed where there were five in a row. We had a gap at the end of the row, so we planted it there to fill this gap. The other two were pretty straggly so we tossed.

Early in the summer we dug up four Day Lily’s and have transplanted them in a row….as the new bed border between our bed and the back side of the property.

We have leveled the bed, started creating a deep outer  edge along the side, and next we will reset a few of the uneven bricks on the side near the gravel/stone slab path. We have gone to the nursery and purchased 7 bags of top soil to amend the beds as they are mostly VA clay. Not great for planting. And we will add some organic gardening soil as well. We also purchased eight (8) bags of mulch with the assistance of  our student helper. And while there….we both took all the large chip mulch out of the sloped bed. It’s rough, too large and hard to plant in, so it was best to dispose of it. Now, we can plant the Pansy bed that our homeowner so wants.

The wind at 25 mph today with a shady yard was a bit of a challenge. All in all it was a super beautiful day. And we feel like when we return next Tuesday we will be able to accomplish quite a lot.

So far, we have six (6) hours in this project. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s definitely coming along.

“Contessa”’ says…..,it’s all good.

(REVISION #2) – Tues – 9/27 – 6:02 pm 

The following photos and Video are part of todays Revision  #2. We cut bank the Vinca Vine up at the top of the sloped bed. We then placed thick newspaper down on the slope and covered them with seven (7) bags of Top Soil. We then added four (4) bags of Bumper Crop Garden Soil to the lower bed where the Pansies are going to be planted. We purchase ten (10) – one (1) quart containers of Pansies, our clients Mom’s favorite. And we arranged new Perennial plants in the large “cleared” bed awaiting our clients approval. We made the pick and she loves what we selected.  She has asked us to purchase two more of the Shasta Daisy plants.

Thursday we will plant all the new plants and finally we have purchased six (6), three (3) cu ft bags of hardwood shredded bark mulch and will lay it all to complete the look.

The new  perennial plants are:

1 – Echinacea Wicked (burgundy)

1 – Guara, Rose Jane

1 – Laucenthemium,  White Lion

1 – Perovskila, Denim n Lace

in addition our client has four planters that we made for her mid-summer. We will plant the White Mum in the new bed. The other plants are annuals and our first frost will take them, but they have done well and her urge to have flowers this summer was fulfilled.  So nice switching to perennials to give her plants that last and plants that will show themselves again next spring. It’s fun and she can even add a couple more things in the spring.  We think there will be room.

IN PROCESS

Please do stay tuned for our final completion video.

Beverley Drive….Early Fall Cleanup

Contessa’s completes fall clean up for every one of our clients. But this year, we are offering early fall cleanup. It’s just necessary because we have had such a dry summer and a slightly early fall. Leaves and debris, branches and limbs are falling from the trees and our lawns are bone dry. We rake your whole yard removing the spent grass that’s been laying there after the lawnmowers have come round. Frankly that dead grass just mats down your grass growth. Raking it brings new life to your grass and if it’s watered during our early fall, in just a few days it green’s up. It’s so exciting to see.

Today we worked 2.5 hours at this property tending the beds and the grass. We are about half way to completion. And we worked one hour on the patio cleaning up all the leaves. Two tress, one in the front and one in the back are so prolific. They are huge and dropping a ton of leaves this year because of our drought. They are Pin Oaks.

This property is an end unit and has come a long way. We’ve transformed the beds and planted all new bushes. It’s been a work in progress but it’s looking better and better each year.

We are pleased to be this clients gardener. It’s great work,  a very congenial relationship and we think our client is very happy. We are here to help. Our pleasure. Please stay tuned for a final completion video.

“Contessa” says…it’s all good.

Beverley Drive/Wellington Corner

Our property here has a slight slope on the side if the house bed outside the white fence. Many invasive weeds travel from the top of the slope jumping  from the weedy are just outside the adjacent building laundry room bed. We’ve requested help with this area so many times. That bed by the laundry room is infested. It’s been allowed to just grow randomly. This causes weeds to grow and climb/jump into the bed we are working on today. At least three times  a year we pull all the weeds and lay fresh mulch.  And because of the slope…. we created two rock stop-gaps to help keep the mulch from eroding down this area. The mulch is very important because it does help to keep some weeds at bay.

Our homeowner is slightly frustrated  in trying to persuade our community to provide a permanent solution. We do our best to help keep it looking as good as possible.

I’m sure a few of you have experienced this. We do live in a very woodland area. And frankly this does make our community a very unique and beautiful place to live. But that intersection between the two buildings has needed a “fix” for a long time. Our new GM even came to look at it. But so far no big solution. Priorities. We are patient and hopeful.

We still have Rose of Sharon about ten (10) ft tall to remove inside the fence. We are hopeful to get this  accomplished yet this week. Stay tuned .

it was a mild and comfortable morning for working. We enjoyed thus  accomplished task. Feels good to complete this work

“Contessa” says….. it’s all good

My Saturday Morning Prayer (REVISED) Wed – 9/21 – 8:22 am

Yesterday I spied one little Caladium leaf in the dirt nuzzled up almost inside a Hosta. All by its lonesome. I gently pulled after making a small dig in the dirt. It gave way….root in tact. I took it home and believe me…. you will see I will make a plant out of it. 

REVISED – Wed – 9/21 – 8:22

Ah…ha’  I knew it  My one little Caladium leaf was doing  its own “thing,” growing under the dirt  Here it comes. Once I get two or three leaf sprouts I’ll move it to a planter. It never ceases to amaze me, at what one leaf can do. It’s so thrilling  I’m saving another plant.  COOL

••••••••••••••

I did this recently with a fern that was down to one (1) frond. It’s now in a planter with six (16) fronds and two new on the way. In October I will plant it in the ground outdoors. It has enough stability now that I think it will make it through the winter and come back in the spring. A small miracle.

I’ve told my gardening clients…. I’ve never killed a plant  The good news is…. nature will inspire you if you will let it rebound and thrive.  Care for it and give it a little bit of time.

So why would I bother with one alive leaf.  It’s my God given talent. HE breathed life into me and gave me this talent. We all have them. So think about your talents and take action that your Lord and Savior God will surely bless you with His Grace.

You and I have gifts to give to Him and to others. Share to make our world better. These are the little things that matter. And most importantly…pause right now, bow your head and give thanks to Him. Jesus….is waiting to hear your thanksgiving.

I wish you all a beautiful Saturday morning

Prayer

…. my dear Jesus  I call you now. Thank you for my talents. I wish to use my talents in the best way. You alone will guide me and give me new inspiration. May I honor you today as I now serve my patrons in their gardens.  Gardens where more than plants are growing.  I’m planting seeds you have given me.   Your seeds of hope and everlasting joy.  Thank you Father…..AMEN

“Contessa” says….it’s all good.

Valley Drive….Phase 2….inside the Courtyard (REVISED) Fri – 9/16 – 7:06 pm

We have been working with this client about two months. No work had been completed in five years. We’ve completed a total cleanup of the perimeter of the property, removed tons of plant life that was mostly green and we have created new perennial flowers beds. 

Today we started a total clean up of the inner part of this courtyard. English Boxwoods enclose this courtyard. They were in desperate need of inner trimming. Tons of dead growth. A cleanup today will encourage lots of unew healthy growth. Our goal is to bring them back to box style as they should be. Simple neglect can be fixed. It’s simply about careful trimming, tidying the soil in the beds and watering.
Tomorrow we are back to continue with this project. Our time will be spent finishing the bushes on the left side of the property and then tilling the soil and tidying the right side which is now full of new perennial plantings.  It’s coming along. We are delighted to continue and this client, gives us a free reign to take care of his property. We complete the work, keep track of our hours and bill every ten hours.
One of our newest payment enhancements is using VENMO. Clients seem to love it. Very hassle free.  And for us it totally works.

We trust you will stay tuned to this project as we post additional work progress

“Contessa” says…..it’s all good!

REVISED – Fri – 9/16 – 7:06 pm 

Today we completed Phase 3. The flowers bed.
It has bloomed very nicely all summer. Everything has grown. And today we first used our new “leaf blower” to clean the bed of all debris. Then we hand tilled – on hands and knees all the soil in the bed. Propping up each plant as needed with existing soil and cutting back any dead growth as needed. The newly transplanted Coneflowers in particular needed cutting back. They have seen their best days. And now the new Pink Muhly Grasses show up much better. We then added the quantity of 80 lbs of new rich organic soil in and around every plant in this flower bed. We even put new soil around all the Pencil Boxwoods. Our client has mentioned on a few occasions that he did not see the need.  Well we convinced him that for new things to grow well… it’s very important. Thus us the first client who could not see the need. If I’m to cultivate and care for this Garden….. it is a necessity. First off,  it helps protect the plants for the winter, 2nd it gives the whole bed a fresh and tidy look and third it’s organic material. There is Compost and Maneur and Fertilizer and organic waste in this $11.04 bag of soil. And we spread two bags. $22.08 in total. A very small investment….but he will see the end result. Things will begin to grow like mad, and they will “green…up” (chlorophyll) and this will become very evident. He gave in… in the end. A new gardener who is learning process. We understand.

And so tonight we send you our todays work video until late fall….or if he may decides to plant more things.  He is looking into adding some bulbs.  Purple Delphiniums in particular was one he likes. He will select…I will plant.
And he mentioned that once the summer flowers completely die back that he wants to add some “winter blooming” flowers. We talked about White Camellias, perhaps some Lily of the Valley or some Lenten Roses.

We will wait to hear from him.  He also has a great selection of English Boxwoods, so a few small “ball shaped” Boxwoods might be nice for fill in.  He dies not like to see soil or mulch. Hex wants very full and lush beds. The budget is flexible so we will browse at the nursery the first week in October when we go out with another client. I’m certain we can find some new things to plant.

It’s fun to create a look and it’s also fun forus to do the work. We are pleased to work for this new client….. our first season with him. We’ve both enjoyed the process and we think he’s pretty content with our collaborations. Fun!!

AFTER

Once again “Contessa” says…..it’s all good:

A CONTESSA “Signature Service” Mt Eagle Place ……early fall….bed clean up (REVISED, Wed – 9/14 – 7:21 pm)

Yesterday we completed an assignment in our community. A repeat client. In fact she subscribes to what we call our “Contessa Signature Service.”

Our work for this fantastic client began on Tuesday and we carried over to Wednesday.  We worked a total off 7.5 hours. Our client usually has us four times per year.  So what exactly does a Contessa Signature Service include?

• Weeding all beds
• Trimming/ pruning all bushes
• Deadheading all blooming plants
• Amending soil as needed
• Transplanting/relocations as requested
• Deep Edging all bed borders
• Cutting back all dead growth
• Mulching beds upon request
• Raking all lawns, removing dead grass and rejuvenating new growth
• Complete Watering
• Final “Tidy”to the sidewalks

Our clients pretty much know the drill now and they completely rely on us to come, execute and “do our thing,” They trust us  They leave us to our work and usually they communicate by txt from indoors if they have requests or suggestions.

It’s our pleasure and we are pretty certain “their JOY.”

We love what we are doing and they know that  we treat their work as if we were working in our own yard.  A  personal but professional approach.

So if you will….please take a few moments to read a summary of our contributions at this lovely double unit in our historic Condominium Community.

Please do contact us if you have questions or would like to book with us, for a 30-minute “free gardening consultation.”

• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •

BEFORE

Our client has been on vacation twice this summer so her being away has meant it was definitely time for a tidy. She loves her garden and we think she calls on us more often than any client we have. Certainly glad to be her gardener. She loves her spot and we love it too. And with several seasons working for her now we have  her beds in such great shape. Very few weeds at all today. We have planted almost everything she has. This time of year things are dying back,  but so far only the Peony suffered a set back. It developed Powdery Mildew. We’ve treated it, but the best thing to do is to cut it back eventually, because the silvery/white blight just continues to spread. It doesn’t kill the plant but it weakens growth and so today we took it to the ground. We are hopeful for next years new growth.

We tilled all the soil today cleaned all the beds of damp leaves. It’s looking fresh again. And we raked the yard. Doing this….although a little extra work, removes all the dead grass from summers mowing and the dampish leaves. We also did some gentle trimming of everything. Uniformity is the goal. Plants will grow in strange ways sometimes and we always tell our clients that they should decide how they want the plant to grow. Remember….don’t let the plant decide. If you do this, you may end up with a very crazy looking plant

We think our clients yard is looking very fresh again.

iN PROCESS

Tomorrow we are back to take care of the side yard and transplant an established Hydrangea that is poorly located; moving it to a better spot on the the side of the property.

And in October we will visit the nursery together shopping to select and plant six (6) new Skip Cherry Laurel bushes as a border to the back yard, between our client and the neighboring property.

Skip Cherry Laurel t(bush/hedge)

In late Oct, early November we will complete our final fall/winter bed prep and mulch all the beds. And so……another gardening season completes itself for our wonderful four (4) year client. It is indeed our pleasure

“Contessa” says…. It’s all good!

••••••••

AFTER/FINAL

REVISED – Wed – 7:21 pm – 915

Yesterday we completed the front yard beds. Today we completed the side yard, and transplanted a smallish  Hydrangea from the back yard. It’s in a great spot now. More sun and an empty bed with room to grow. It can be nice. We’ll anxiously wait to see it’s progress next spring.  The bed was full of Vinca Vine, now all removed. We cleaned up the Iris bed but neatly left the leaves laying on the bed. These fronds are  next years vitamins/nourishment. And we totally cut down the Day Lily patch. It was spindly, sparse and weak looking. Hopefully it will fill in a little better next year. Finally we just went by to apply a liquid fertilizer treatment with a pump spray attached to the hose. One hour if nourishment can do wonders.
We are very pleased with this project. Tge good news is there were very few weeds this year which will make our a November final visit so much easier. Mostly leaf removal, till the soil and apply a final mulch treatment.

This yard has come a long way. We are very pleased. A great example of what a “Contessa” signature “Fall Bed Clean Uo”looks like.

“Contessa” says……. It’s all good!

Mt Eagle Place ……early fall….bed clean up (REVISED, Wed – 9/14 – 7:21 pm)

BEFORE

Our client has been on vacation twice this summer so her being away has meant it was definitely time for a tidy. She loves her garden and we think she calls on us more often than any client we have. Certainly glad to be her gardener. She loves her spot and we love it too. And with several seasons working for her now we have  her beds in such great shape. Very few weeds at all today. We have planted almost everything she has. This time of year things are dying back,  but so far only the Peony suffered a set back. It developed Powdery Mildew. We’ve treated it, but the best thing to do is to cut it back eventually, because the silvery/white blight just continues to spread. It doesn’t kill the plant but it weakens growth and so today we took it to the ground. We are hopeful for next years new growth.

We tilled all the soil today cleaned all the beds of damp leaves. It’s looking fresh again. And we raked the yard. Doing this….although a little extra work, removes all the dead grass from summers mowing and the dampish leaves. We also did some gentle trimming of everything. Uniformity is the goal. Plants will grow in strange ways sometimes and we always tell our clients that they should decide how they want the plant to grow. Remember….don’t let the plant decide. If you do this, you may end up with a very crazy looking plant

We think our clients yard is looking very fresh again.

iN PROCESS

Tomorrow we are back to take care of the side yard and transplant an established Hydrangea that is poorly located; moving it to a better spot on the the side of the property.

And in October we will visit the nursery together shopping to select and plant six (6) new Skip Cherry Laurel bushes as a border to the back yard, between our client and the neighboring property.

Skip Cherry Laurel t(bush/hedge)

In late Oct, early November we will complete our final fall/winter bed prep and mulch all the beds. And so……another gardening season completes itself for our wonderful four (4) year client. It is indeed our pleasure

“Contessa” says…. It’s all good!

••••••••

AFTER/FINAL

REVISED – Wed – 7:21 pm – 915

Yesterday we completed the front yard beds. Today we completed the side yard, and transplanted a smallish  Hydrangea from the back yard. It’s in a great spot now. More sun and an empty bed with room to grow. It can be nice. We’ll anxiously wait to see it’s progress next spring.  The bed was full of Vinca Vine, now all removed. We cleaned up the Iris bed but neatly left the leaves laying on the bed. These fronds are  next years vitamins/nourishment. And we totally cut down the Day Lily patch. It was spindly, sparse and weak looking. Hopefully it will fill in a little better next year. Finally we just went by to apply a liquid fertilizer treatment with a pump spray attached to the hose. One hour if nourishment can do wonders.
We are very pleased with this project. Tge good news is there were very few weeds this year which will make our a November final visit so much easier. Mostly leaf removal, till the soil and apply a final mulch treatment.

This yard has come a long way. We are very pleased. A great example of what a “Contessa” signature “Fall Bed Clean Uo”looks lije. Our pleasure…. and our clients joy.

Valley Drive – back bordering property ….a continuation

The outside of the courtyard is complete……

Now to get inside the courtyard and trim. Also included will be the tall Boxwoods. Towards the bottom I’m taking off three inches. This will allow for tidying in and under when PFX comes to trim them. Otherwise all the cut debris lays there, dries out and blows all over the patio. Makes for a very untidy patio and very messy garden beds. And once the bushes inside have been trimmed back,  then I’ll finalize tidying the planted beds.  Added we’re all new Perennyals this year.

I stopped the deep edge at the end because our owner thinks the neighbor might think he’s encroaching. I’ll convince him otherwise. That neighbor never uses his patio and frankly I’m guessing he will never even go out there and see it. 

It’s looking pretty fresh we think. And we raised the bed slightly by creating this deep edging, all that soil was tossed up into the mounded bed. It gives such a professional appearance. So far we have five (5) hours on this outside border phase

Please do stay tuned to our accomplishing the trimming and tidying inside this lovely courtyard. This is a really nice property and every day it’s looking better. We are very pleased so far.

“Contessa” says……it’s a good thing.

The Trimming and Care of Bushes

We are currently on assignment at a location with wonderful bushes around the perimeter of the property. They are well established. No serious trimming has taken place in five years. We are beginning the process. This week we began with the outer side of the property. Of note is a very large and mature Oak Leaf Hydrangea. It’s huge leaves and branches are so heavy they are touching and weighted to the ground. And they are hanging over the lovely Boxwood bushes inside the patio area. They can hardly be seen as a result. It’s in great need of being trimmed. And on the other side of the property are two beautiful heavy wrought iron gates that are supporting two very beautiful climbing Hydrangeas. These also need a lift. The result is that this year they did not produce any new blooms.

We began the trimming process on Friday and have completed the task on the outside of the garden. As well,  on hands and knees we climbed in and got down and under to remove all low lying dead limbs, leaves and debris so as to provide a new cavity in which these glorious bushes can produce new growth and blossoms next spring. It’s quite exciting actually. These bushes needed us.

Here a couple shots of the process:

Additionally, we dug up and removed a buried water line which has become nonfunctional. And as we will now be the ongoing Gardener here, we will provide all care including watering and nurturing these very amazing bushes.

Three (3) reasons it’s important to trim and lift the weight of  bushes are; they need light, air circulation around them and room to grow from the inside. And they need to be open and uncrowned. They also need to be cleaned and cleared underneath so they can grow properly and not touch the ground. And proper trimming provides a more regal look and gives them new growing power. If plants are not trimmed they only grow from the outer branches, while the main stalk if they plant near the root is nit producing any new growth.
So after three hours we are closer to finishing the bushes in the outer part of the property. Monday we will return to clean and clear the bordering beds and create a deep edging around the entire property. This will create a beautiful final grounds appeal. We are very pleased so far.

Please do stay tuned for a FINAL video.

So as with your own bushes keep these tasks in mind  Remember, all things grow back. Thinning out and lifting off the ground is so important for removing dead debris and for your bushes to receive moisture from the rain without packed leaves and debris keeping them from receiving that moisture. It simply makes sense. Do not be afraid to trim. We will cover proper trimming techniques in a future post so do visit us again here on the Garden Contessa blog.

“Contessa” says……it’s a good thing

Valley Drive…..creating new beds…..a work in progress

We began this  project, piece-meal about two months ago, to spread out expenditures. Our homeowner has definite ideas about creating his new flowering, full sun gardening space. It was a huge step for him, as the back garden beds were chocker block full, but with nothing but green. There was not a soil or mulch area to be seen as it was thickly populated with 22 Hostas and a ton of Monkey grasses. Common and yet the landscape with the very fine English Boxwood, the climbing Hydrangeas and the monster Oak Leaf Hydrangea and the numerous “pencil” Boxwoods gave a first impression and a feel of being in an estate garden. It looked full. It looked nice. But it looked way overcrowded. And he talked about adding layers of Perennial flowers and some color to his very private “oasis.”

On Friday we finished Phase 1 of the project. There are now peripheral things we will do…..probably more towards spring since we want to see what comes back and how full it will look. Honestly, this late in the summer its a bit hard to tell just how much more we will need until we can experience the new growth post winter.

We think so far,  it has come together nicely.  The bare bones surrounding the patio now need trimming and the Boxwoods in particular need shaping attention.

So far we have added two Rose bushes, Canna Lily’s, Lavender, Ferns, Salvia, Foxglove, Tiger Lily’s, Freckle Face Lily’s, Indian Pinks, Wormwood, Bee Balm, Butterfly bush, and  yesterday we completed the final install of six Pink Muhly Grass and a huge transplanting of Coneflowers which do add some great height to his landscape. 

It is a work in progress and so we invite you to stay tuned in.

“Contessa” says …… it’s a good thing!