The garden gets a personal trainer

The term “garden coach” found more widespread use last year, thanks in part to an article in The New York Times about the growing number of personal trainers for gardeners (Plant! Water! Weed!, June 15, 2007).

These consultants typically aren’t landscape architects. They aren’t going to gut a property and create an entirely new garden. Instead, garden coaches are helping hands for the do-it-yourself community. These professionals provide fresh perspective and tips for dealing with existing trouble spots.

North Haven Gardens in Dallas has adapted the garden coach concept to better serve its customers. The staff found that many homeowners needed specific advice on certain parts of their landscape, but didn’t need a full-fledged landscape design session. Enter Kay Nelson, a Texas Certified Nursery Professional and North Haven Gardens’ resident garden coach.

Solid, specific advice

Nelson said they launched the program last fall. The coaching sessions were promoted in the store’s newsletter and Web site. A 45-minute private consultation runs $50. At the end of the session, gardeners receive a $50 North Haven Gardens gift card. Nelson said payment is required beforehand to cut down on no-shows.

How do these coaching sessions differ from your typical landscape design consultation? Nelson pointed out several differences.

1. The coaching sessions are tailored to do-it-yourselfers.

2. The focus is on plants rather than hardscapes.

3. Gardeners usually come in with specific problems and distinct areas they’d like to improve. Many bring photographs, and a few bring site plans. After discussing the situation, Nelson makes recommendations and will often take customers out to the plant yard to view specific items.

4. The coaching sessions also seem to attract a wider range of gardeners.

“We’ve seen new homeowners, people with containers on their balcony, retirees that are trying to downsize and simplify,” Nelson said. “I even talked with one couple that was getting ready to sell their home and were looking for ways to add curb appeal.”

Another distinction worth noting is garden coach sessions can attract repeat visitors, whereas landscape design sessions are usually a one-time deal. Nelson said she’s seen most of her clients just once. However, one customer has already had three sessions addressing different aspects of her garden.

Growth opportunities

The program is still in its infancy, but Nelson said it should generate sales (above and beyond the $50 gift card) in the long term. But they’re not gauging success of the program solely based on the money brought in.

“Really what we’re trying to do is to create relationships with our customers,” Nelson said.

In the future, Nelson said they might offer on-site consultations in addition to in-store sessions.

“We’ll see how this goes first,” she said.

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For more: North Haven Gardens, (214) 363-5316; www.nhg.com.

- Sarah Martinez

April 2008