Pruning….your window of opportunity

Pruning all bushes between now , and by the end of the first week in October, is your window of opportunity. We have been trimming bushes the whole month of September.

When you prune, you are giving a signal to the bush….that it has permission now to grow new branches and leaves, and in the case of Rose bushes, they usually give you a full robust blooming phase in October and even into November and December.  If there is no early frost, Roses can bloom even into December. It’s kind of a last “hurrah” before winter arrives. Pruning “now” gives all your bushes the whole month of October to show you their stuff. Growing can be strong during October. And this new growth will be nourishment for your bushes to protect them from the real chill of winter.

Sooo…, get busy in the next couple weeks to prune and trim your bushes. They are waiting for you to relieve them of their older growth, left by summers heat.

Contessa says…. You have our permission to prune and if you feel afraid, just get in contact with us and we’ll do the job for you. We are most Happy to help. You will be thrilled with the results. We are certain.

•••••••••••••••
Below are Rose Stem cuts. 

And in the case of all other bushes, cut back at least six (6) inches, and make the “diagonal”’ cut right before the next branch with leaves intact

“Contessa” says…., it’s all good!

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.

TIPS…..lets’s share ideas….

 

Hello Gardening Friends:

I have offered this helpful post twice prior, but this is a project hat you can do indoors. Tomorrow is going to be gorgeous but cool. This project is a good indoor activity for a chilly fall day.

BTW……Starting today…..I will begin posting some helpful reminders of projects I work on and perhaps they will inspire you to do the same,  After all…. a gardener is perpetually thinking about the next season so keep your mind focused and satisfy your own indoor boredom with your gardening project ideas. Time savers, and cost saving measures. It can’t hurt and it gives you a head start on things you want to accomplish for your new gardening season – 2023. Believe it or not it will come faster than you think.  Such a happy thought……

Check in with me a couple days a week going forward, as I will post my ideas/tips  for gardening. Feel free to call or txt me if you have ideas you’d like to share. And with your permission, I can post them here. I often get in conversations with my gardening folk and comparing notes is so fun. Love to hear from you.  Txt 703-548-1882.
Thank You!

“Contessa

•••••••••••••

What You’ll Need

• 10″ Terra Cotta Pot (weve used an aluminum tub)
• Clean Sand
• Mineral Oil

Begin with  a simple terra cotta pot. The aluminum one I used is about 14 inches in diameter.

Paint it a pretty color if you’re feeling fancy.

Next, working in a large bowl or bucket, mix together enough sand to fill your pot with some mineral oil. You want to use enough oil so that your sand is fairly evenly coated. It should stick together but still have a “crumbly-ish” texture. Place your favourite hand tools down into the sand when you’re done with them.  Each time  they’ll get a little sharper (kind of like when you use sand paper to sharpen kitchen scissors) and they’ll be coated in just enough oil to keep them rust free! It’s truly magic.  Enjoy!

Planting Bulbs…..for Spring Growth

It occurred to us today that we have not mentioned planting bulbs for next spring blooms. They are available now at the nurseries. Frankly, because our winters are more mild than years gone by, we think it’s safe to plant as late as Nov 15. But….. selections dwindle as fall moves along, so we recommend you buy early.

We are going on a buying trip to Merrifield Garden Center  on Oct 4th, so if you need any do let us know now. We are taking orders.  Please give us a cal. We are happy to pick them out for you

Planting:  Dig your holes deep enough and make sure you add some fresh soil to the dig. And be sure to water. We highly recommend you sprinkle the mound with “blood meal.”  It’s a miracle worker that keeps the squirrels from digging them up. It’s lway worth purchasing.

Note:  As you are planting your bulbs, pause and look up to the sky and the heavens. Our Savior God is watching over you, our earth and your bulbs. Think about the promise of new growth. Growth in you…and in the beautiful flowers that will emerge come April/May. It’s a miracle to be sure. And it encourages us to know that the process of “new growth”  and “blessings”  continue to grow in our earth and in us every day. How wonderful and encouraging.

Blessings from “Contessa

Announcement……

Hello Gardening Friend’s,

The Garden Contessa plans to participate in our community yard sale along  with other artists/crafters and entrepreneurs. Our tables will be grouped together.

And 32 other Parkfairfax residents will be participating as well.  The largest yard sale ever this year. it should be a lot of fun.

So far our vendor group will include:

1.  Pawetry In Motion  https://www.facebook.com/FunnyDogPoet

2.  Blooms of Paradise   https://bloomsofparadise.com/

3. Art by Jim and Tommye (watercolor)

4. Tumbleweed Design (watercolor)

5. Millie Rose Clay Company Instagram@millierose__clayco

6. Rare Bird Press (wood prints)

7. Happily Hyers Sweets  – cupcakes

8. The Garden Contessa (www.Contessas.net

Please stop by and visit us.  We will give away two (2) $25.00 gift certificates for your use with a “confirmed fall clean-up” booking.

 First  come….first served!

We will have yard sale items available as well. Some of which will include, remaining inventory from our former Delray store…..Contessa’s Garden and Gift, LLC 

We look forward to seeing all of you Saturday, October 1.

Thank You!

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

Birds and Blooms – June/July/August/September

Birds and Blooms Magazine is an awesome way to learn about birds, houseplants, gardening, bushes, trees, climates, crawly creatures and plant identification. We have offered the opportunity prior for you to read this simple but very informative publication. It’s a great evening read. No TV and you learn so much. Let us know if you woukd like to view them. We can drop them by your location for a weeks lend. Then we can pick them up and pass them to the next location. Birds and Blooms is so worth your time. 

In the September issue we discovered an article about grasses. And we have a current client who wanted grasses as a backdrop to their newly established garden, which we actually planted. We visited the nursery and we selected six Pink Buhly Grass plants at about $75, and planted them last Friday. As you can see in the photo below they are lush and full and very attractive as a filler.

Please contact us to reserve your week of reading at:

ContessasHome@gmail,com or at 703-548-1882

“Contessa” says….., it’s all good!

A Simple/Smart Gardening Tip from Contessa

What You’ll Need

• 10″ Terra Cotta Pot (weve used an aluminum tub)
• Clean Sand
• Mineral Oil

Begin with  a simple terra cotta pot. The aluminum one I used is about 14 inches in diameter.

Paint it a pretty color if you’re feeling fancy.

Next, working in a large bowl or bucket, mix together enough sand and mineral oil to fill your pot. You’ll want to use enough oil so that your sand is fairly evenly coated. It should stick together but still have a “crumbly-ish” texture. Place your favourite hand tools down into the sand when you’re done with them.  Each time, they’ll get a little sharper (kind of like when you use sand paper to sharpen kitchen scissors) and they’ll be coated in just enough oil to keep them rust free! It’s magic.

“Contessa” says….. it’s easy – peezy!!

Gardening Rotation Is Beginning….and New Clients Joining Us + New Yard Debris Policy (REVISED 8/17)

The Garden Contessa is pleased to announce that we have a robust “new client”  following, and we are just this week beginning our end of summer current client rotation. What does this mean?

Well first off….. it’s all about weeding your beds, derp edging them and tidying up your current plants ir transplanting ones you’d like in a different location. It happens. They grow too large for the spot they are in, or you like them so much you want to put them in a spot that is more visible. We  did accomplish all this for you early summer…..but, “the weeds are back” and we think a refreshed and new look can be “a very good thing.”

Our first transition job began yesterday. The bed seen in our video was chocker block full with weeds. Recent heavy rains added fast and furious weed growth. So this bed took us three hours to clear. The other half of the bed along the rest of the side of the property is more plant populated, so it won’t take quite as long. But with this fantastic temperature change it’s just glorious working weather. Please consider booking us to get your beds cleaned up to make your property look presentable, as we have one more month until fall. It gives your yard a fantastic tidy and lift, and it makes our fall clean up for you less time consuming.

OF NOTE:  

NEW “CONTESSA” DEBRIS POLICY

WE HAVE BEEN HAULING ALL YOUR LEAF AND YARD DEBRIS TO THE LEAF PILE AT OUR PFX MAINTENANCE YARD FOR FIVE (5) YEARS.

• Starting Today…..8/16, we will no longer be doing this. We have discovered a much more efficient way to handle your yard refuse.

These products are easily purchased at Home Depot. Five bags at a cost of $2.67. And the best part is no more huge black plastic bags going to our PFX dump. We don’t use them but many resident’s do…..and so we all need to set an example of efficient refuse yard disposal. The crews have to unbag them and this is time. So…..we hear tell…. they much prefer these large paper bags.

We will bag them for you and two options are available. We can place them curb side for PFX pick up…

OR….we can bag them for you and place the bags near your vehicle. Then you can take them, empty them and bring the bags back to your home. We will re-use them.

Gardening Friends…. It’s about efficiency and saving the environment. And although we have been doing all this for all of you……”Contessa” will no longer haul trash. It’s time consuming, adding length to our day and it’s also uncompensated extra time. Plus it’s just plain and simple, hard on our vehicle, not to mention heavy lifting. We had to make this policy change. We think you are going to like it much better, and we will do our best to make it a hassle free transition for you.

We were at Home Depot today and they have a huge supply of five (5) packs. Again @$2.67 for five (bags).

We trust you will keep in mind the efficiency of paper over plastic and we wish to remind you of the fantastic benefit we all have of being able to have a local, in-house resource to handle all our leaf and yard debris. Please do your part to help keep our environment clean and sustainable.

Thank you very much,

from….

“The Garden Contessa.”

Loppers- Aluminum.

We splurged and purchased new  “Loppers” this week. As a result we were able to trim the Arbor Vitae and the Lilac bush/tree in our newest clients yard. We have needed them for a while. They are light weight and flexible, very sharp and strong. We are pleased. Under $38. 

“Contessa” says ….. it’s a good thing.