::Now things are moving!

Looking good huh? We were delayed 4 weeks by a underwater pool light for the deep end. It's unfortunate that it delayed us so long. Hopefully my client's frustrations will go away as they dive in the pool for the first time!

The cabanas will have a pergola between them where lounging and entertaining can take place.  The liner was custom fitted and has been placed but the water is not in it yet.

The next step is landscaping.  That begins tomorrow.  The slope behind the cabanas is a bit of an unknown because there is possibly bedrock close to the house.  We'll know more tomorrow.  The sun is beginning to peek through after 3 days of rain, and I'm looking forward to this project being completed really soon!   

::Wanna be the first landscape project when spring begins? Follow these steps...

Hire a designer in the fall to, at the very least, consult on your property.  One hour of his/her time can help you realize the potential and limitations of your property and design scaled drawings from which a landscape contractor can quote.

The same designer can recommend and facilitate meetings with talented and reputable landscape professionals in your area. Arranging that in the fall and winter of the previous year along with a deposit will get you first off the starting block as soon as the ground thaws!

I know I haven't been writing much lately but that's because I am out and about enjoying every minute of my job.  The pool project is moving forward quite nicely now after a long delay. Electricians, plumbers and Cabana carpenters are giving us their best and my clients and I sure do appreciate it.  Photos in my next post....stay tuned!!

:::Trying to Find a Landscape Professional?::

Well, it may be late in the season but, here is the current list of Landscape Newfoundland and Labrador's Association members:

http://www.landscapenf.org/member_list.php

Hiring a member is (as Martha says) a good thing.

::More than one way to skin a cat!

The truck couldn't fit around the side of the garage so, hey, why not go over the roof?  The pool project continues......

:::The Best of the Net:::

This is a copy of a newsletter from Connon Nurseries in ON.  So full of info I had to pass it on!  Enjoy!

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Spring has been a long time coming;tempting us with warm sunny days and then shocking us back into sweaters and jackets! With its prolonged arrival, we can enjoy long lasting blooms from tulips and many other spring bulbs. Lilacs are giving us a show to remember -enjoy Spring’s Tapestry of Colour.

Planting ANNUALS!!! Remember to break-up tight roots, encouraging roots to spread into surrounding soil. Also use a transplant fertilizer, which helps plants to establish quickly, so you can enjoy an abundance of bloom all summer long. WATCH OUT for late frosts!! Cool Spring temperatures are holding on; when weather forecasts lows of 5C(or less) and clear nights, cover your tender annuals to protect from damaging frosts and dreaded cold shock which can stunt growth.

LAWN CARE: Looking for a dark green lawn? Here’s the best kept secret in lawn care that’s never been shared. K-Mag contains MAGNESIUM, which is a major component of chlorophyll – the green colouring in plants. Using any fertilizer spreader, apply K-Mag 0-0-21 now to obtain a richer, green colour in your lawn. Be the envy of the neighborhood.

LILACS enjoy a good pruning! Take time to prune some blossoms and take them indoors. Pruning lilacs while in bloom or immediately after will allow the lilac to set bloom for next year's show! Fertilize lilacs with a high phosphorus (high center number)product mid to late summer to encourage bud development.

PERENNIAL CARE: After the first bloom of many spring flowering perennials, remove the spent blooms and prune back the plant. This results in a stronger, thicker plant, and quite often, you’ll benefit from a repeat bloom! Summer and fall blooming perennials may still be divided in the cool weather. Remember to use a transplant fertilizer, encouraging strong root growth, helping to re-establish newly divided perennials.

Check your EUONYMUS for scale. (Often white and usually present in large quantities; it looks like part of the bark.) The young are now hatching (always when lilacs bloom!) and are very susceptible to an application of Horticultural Oil. Prune out severely affected areas and apply horticultural oil to the rest of the stems, deterring the scale from infecting the whole plant.