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A little about Hill Country
Gardener:
Hill Country Gardener and hillcountrygardener.com is a sole proprietorship that is owned and operated by Matthew McCabe (Matt). I retired from a 20+ year career as an Engineer in Telecommunications. I have elected to follow a passion for beautiful yards and flowers. I have been growing plants in the central Texas area for over 20 years; and have developed a keen passion and knowledge for flowers and their beauty to enhance our gardens and yards. I also have a previous life of studying painting, drawing and art.
Maintenance Service Rates:
Current Hourly rate start at $65 an hour for Hill Country Gardener (Matthew), and $85 - $100 per hour
for a two man crew (typically Matthew and 1 helper); additional changes will apply based on the extent and type of
work to be performed, equipment needed and for additional personnel.
Work may be scheduled Monday - Friday (Holiday and vacation exceptions).
Some fixed bidding can be provided as time permits. Please contact Hill
Country Gardener for your special needs. Projects requiring an extended
drive time will incur a charge for mileage and drive times.
Special services to assist clients on gardening and yard projects are available.
Services Include:
Annual/perennial flowerpot and flowerbed plant trimming, fertilizing, mulch/bed turn over and weeding/clean up. Some flower bed and yard revitalization projects, and also small drainage or irrigation projects.
Service Rates Do Not Include: Expenditures for materials, planters, plants, mulch, soils, compost and fertilizers, etc.
"Mulching, composting (yards and
beds), weeding and major rehab projects welcomed!"
The following is a recommended flower garden maintenance schedule; Matt at
Hill Country Gardener is prepared to help you with any or all of these tasks so
that you will have more time to enjoy your beautiful garden.
Recommended Gardening Schedule:
Spring (Mid March - April):
*
Set out/plant springtime annuals, new perennials, frost hardy flowers and
early bulbs; prepare roses for the growing season
* Liquid Fertilize
new plants and/or add bone meal (also consider, time released fertilizer,
Osmocote) to bulb beds and Iris rhizomes for beautiful early spring
flowers.
"Be sure to add fertilizer around
your Amaryllis plants for beautiful blooms in May."
* Trim and clean up
plants and flowerbeds, add mulch and prepare garden for planting
* After Mid-March/first
freeze, begin setting out/planting and uncovering the plants and flower pots
that were protected during the winter months. "Good rule of thumb for
setting out temperature-sensitive plants is to wait till after the Mesquite or
Pecan trees begin to bloom."
* Seasonal field-grass
trimming for wildflower fields (March).
Add sandy-mulch-turkey-compost mix
to grassy yards (and for sod leveling) - will promote the development better
grass roots resulting in richer, greener grass from the natural compost and high
nutrient levels.
This is the recommended time to start planting Zinnia seeds, Gladiolas and
Dahlias for cutting/indoor arrangements in the summer months. It is a good idea
to separate plantings by 2 to 4 week intervals of to ensure a steady supply of
blooms for flower arrangements. Rose bushes can be safely planted in this
season. The cooler and usually
damper spring weather will help the bushes develop a stronger root system, which
will aid them in surviving through the summer heat and droughts.
Summer (May - early June):
* Remove early Spring
flowers that have gone by and set out/plant summer flowers, Perennials, bulbs
and bushes
* Weed plant beds, trim
off dried stems and leaves, mulch to conserve watering requirements
Be sure to trim the old blooms off the Azaleas to allow for next years buds to start their growth ad extra mulch around the base to keep moisture through the dry summer ( is a good rule to be completed prior to June 1).
*
Trim plants and deadhead new growth for full healthy plants
* Liquid Fertilize and
add bone meal as needed
* Mark Iris blossom
types/colors (on the plants leaves) to assure proper identification when
splitting in fall
"Try to resist trimming your wild flower seeds to early - should wait till after Indian Blankets, Texas Star's and daisies have bloomed and gone to seed. Too early of the field cutting will reduce the next years flowers."
Late summer revival (July and August):
* Re-mulch plants beds
(as needed)
* Liquid Fertilize
plants (Medina Has to Grow or Liquid Seaweed are good organic fertilizers)
Add a splash of Super Thrive to your fertilizer mix for a great hormone boost to
your plants).
* Weed plant beds, trim
off dried stems and leaves - this is a great time to do some mid season trimming
of Salvia, Lantana and other strong growing summer plants.
* Check the plants for
summer insects and fungus
*
Trim plants and deadhead new growth for full healthy plants
Fall (September, October):
* Seasonal trimming and
pruning of flowers and perennial plants with additional fertilizer and Hormone
treatment (Super Thrive)
* Mulching, weeding,
fluffing the bed to assure moisture can reach the roots, and
removal of dried plant stems/leaves to assure continued late fall colors and
plant hardiness
* Split the Iris
rhizomes and bulb plants to propagate the plant and thin dense growth areas as
needed
*
Split up and repot overgrown plants
Wild flower seed planting season begins mid September through October in the
Hill Country. Typically want to
have 10 – 15 days of damp cool weather for ideal germination of the wild
flower seeds.
Winterizing (November - December):
* Winter pruning of
roses
* Seasonal pruning of
flowers
* Mulching and
protecting frost sensitive plants and bulbs, replacing with winter hardy
flowering plants/grasses
* Set out/plant spring
bulb plants and bushes
* Trim all plants and
shrubs as needed, Mulch the ones you cut back to help protect from frost.
Keep the plants moist during the winter freezes.
*
Remove potted plants that are not freeze hearty and store in sheds, garage or
greenhouse.
* Fertilize and/or add
bone meal to bulbs and Iris rhizomes
"This is a great time for trimming
bushes, and trees (on colder days). Also a good (usually rainy) time for
planting new trees and bushes. "
January - February (into early March):
*
Field trimming for better viewing of wild flowers
*
Assure outside plants are protected from frost/cold North winds
*
Trim Crape Myrtles. "Please do not top out your Crape Myrtles!"
*
Cut back tropical flowers (banana plants) and cover stalk/roots
"Cut back rose bushes - being sure
to add a liquid glue to the ends to help prevent stem splitting and also keep
bugs from boring into the exposed stocks"
Additional Services: (available on a limited basis and pre-negotiated
rates):
Weekly or Daily plant/flower garden maintenance and watering services
Interior/Houseplant maintenance services available either continuous or for as
needed vacation periods
Personalized holiday and specialty occasion garden maintenance services and
special garden projects
Additional Information:
Plants, debris, root, bulbs that are removed during maintenance services will
become property and disposal responsibility of Hill Country Gardener unless
otherwise discussed and agreed upon before services are rendered.
All plant survival requires reasonable watering and care based on environmental
conditions, it is the property owner/customer's responsibility to assure plants
receive proper watering and care between Hill Country Gardener scheduled
maintenance service calls.
All Plants that are provided to customer/property owner by Hill Country Gardener
will be billed/paid for at the time of installation and will become the property
of customer/property owner unless otherwise agreed upon before services are
rendered. Plants not paid for at the time that services are rendered
or invoiced
will remain the property of Hill Country Gardener and may be removed at any
time.