by Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

Every day, aging seniors grapple with staying in their own homes or moving to another type of residence.They might hire a cleaning crew to keep the house tidy. And they may contract with a landscape maintenance firm for lawn care, pruning, pesticide applications and mulch during the Midwest growing season.

But a lot of these people were gardeners and are interested in what's growing in their landscapes, even though they no longer can do the planting. They want flowering plants in the ground or in pots to decorate the yard and to signify the seasons.

You can tell who loved to garden. "They stand at the door and watch me working," says Pam Horvitz, owner of highly rated The Garden Sitter in Pittsburgh. During spring, summer and fall, Horvitz works with 75 clients, including about 20 who, because of age or physical condition, are unable to take care of ornamental plants in their landscapes. In her clients' yards, she weeds and tends annuals, perennials and container gardens, but does not take care of the lawn or tackle large pruning jobs.

Talking with families is essential to determine what services are needed, says Edd Mieczkovski of highly rated The Polish Gardener in Columbus, Ohio. "I'm there to serve whatever they want." Horvitz says it can get dicey working with families because some may resent paying for a gardener and a landscape maintenance crew. Her sentiments are that even elderly people should live where they want for as long as possible, and usually their existing homes fill that need - with assistance from family, friends or hired help. "I'd want to stay where my garden is," Horvitz says, who has been a gardener for hire for 12 years.

Aging clients do tend to cut back on what they want in the landscape, usually by about half. "They're very interested in the newest and latest, and they are very aware that they're on a limited income," she says.

Older clients who used to be avid gardeners tend to be picky and precise about how they want things done, Horvitz says. To make sure there are no misunderstandings, the gardener and client should develop a list of duties, responsibilities, frequency of visits and fees. But no matter what your age, remaining in contact with nature and plants is a good thing.

Sometimes known as the Hoosier Gardener, Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp lives in Indianapolis where she manages perennials and woody plants for a large, independent garden center. A freelance writer, her work appears in many publications, including The American Gardener and Garden Gate. Sharp also speaks about gardening throughout the Midwest and is a director of the Garden Writers Association.