Sustainable Gardening

Practical answers from nature-loving garden gurus

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Finding a Coach Near You

Coaching is a new term, so you probably won't find a "coach" near you. But landscape professionals of all sorts and even regular gardeners are acting as coaches — offering their advice on an hourly basis — so find one whose work you like and ASK. Want examples?

• Landscape Designer and award-winning gardenblogger Pam Penick tells me she's been hired to coach local gardeners (though that term was never used) and that she thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
• Years ago I hired a landscape architect to help me design my tiny front yard. Here's a story I wrote about the experience, which was reprinted in Landscape Architecture Magazine in January of 2007.
• My very first coaching client was a local garden club member who asked me, as the club president, if I knew anyone who could teach her to garden, acting as her "mentor." I jumped at the chance, changed the name to coaching and am now in my fourth season as a coach. So you might approach the local garden club or any gardener whose work you love.
• Many, many independent nurseries across the country have staffers they call "consultants," who are happy to serve as coaches: visiting the gardens of customers to help them with design, helping with plant choice at the nursery, then helping with plant placement and instructing in plant installation and long-term care. All for very reasonable hourly rates.
• Another way to find a coach is to ask of your local Master Gardener group. They can't help you out and have it count as community service but they might have one of their certified members who's happy to help you for a fee. Can't hurt to ask.
• Finally, if you see a garden near you that you love and you see the gardener caring for it him or herself, you might stop and ask: " Hey, I love your garden. Can I hire you to teach me to create one like it?" I bet they'll be surprised but also flattered, and maybe inspired to spread the gardening life with a neighbor.

Photo of me and coaching client Kirra Jarrett courtesy Agence France-Presse.