Good gardener in Pasadena or vicinity?

September 28, 2013 11:38 AM

Does anyone have a gardener who will do more than mow and blow, but has the knowledge, ability, and experience to do some planting, trimming, and maintenance?

Just moved to the San Rafael hills area of Pasadena in the past year and inherited the owner's gardeners. They mow and blow - once a week for $150/month. But our plants have been neglected by the gardeners and some are dying. My gardeners just don't have the knowledge of plants or have the skill or inclination to really help maintain our yard.

In the immediate, I'm looking for a gardener who can take on a small job - to plant cover to stabilize a side slope before the rainy season. But in the long run, will soon need someone to help with weekly maintenance (raking, trimming, weeding, extra watering) - not just mow and blow. I have a small minimal front yard, potted succulents and not much backyard. No lawn, mostly native plants and generally low maintenance.

I already contacted a poster on metafilter who has a good Pasadena gardener but they may be filled up with clients. Have checked with neighbors here too who either have the same issues as us or their gardener is too busy. Have checked with using a landscaper but costs are very high ($20k for front yard). So any suggestions with cost would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
EC

posted by Pomeroy to Home & Garden (4 answers total)

One thing I've tried was hand writing a note and putting it in the mailboxes of neighbors who have great looking yards asking if they would be willing to tell me who does their gardening because their yard is beautiful and I need a new gardener. I usually tell them the street I live on so they know I live nearby and it's not a weird scam and include an email address and phone number. It's worked for me.
posted by cecic at 3:16 PM on September 28, 2013

In my area (NYC), there's a website called MetroHort that has classifieds for gardeners. I don't know if the Pasadena area has something similar.

My main suggestion is to go to a local botanical garden and ask a gardener if s/he does side work, and if not, if s/he has a friend who does. I work in a public garden as a gardener and if someone asked me that, I'd be able to give you a recommendation quite easily.
posted by sciencegeek at 3:20 PM on September 28, 2013

My main suggestion is to go to a local botanical garden and ask a gardener if s/he does side work, and if not, if s/he has a friend who does.

that's a great idea. OP could try the gardeners at the huntington library or descanso gardens.
posted by wildflower at 4:04 PM on September 28, 2013

We bought our house from an arborist who is a consultant to the Huntington. The people who work there are top drawer and oftentimes specialists in particular plants. If you could get someone who's managed a crew at the Huntington you'd be in very good shape.

Our yard is a little bigger than yours and has some exotics. Our maintenance schedule is:
- Every other week they do a minor trim and blow. They also check the lighting and adjust the sprinklers.
- Every month they do the fertilizer and big weeding.
- Every other month they do a big plant trim at my direction. Trim this bouganvilla, but not that one. Rip out this plant and replant with that.
- Every six months they trim the trees (on a rotation so every tree gets trimmed once a year).

If you can't get an expert to do the weekly mow and blow, then ask if they'd stop by once a month or every two months to do the more detailed work. Eventually, they'll work you into their weekly schedule.

It took us four tries to find our guy.* What finally made the difference is finding someone who lives in our neighborhood and has lived here for 30 years. Southern California has a lot of microclimate variation. He really knows what plants will work in our small area - not stuff that would work generally in Southern California.

*We live in San Diego, so he won't be any use to you.
posted by 26.2 at 4:45 PM on September 28, 2013