2013 Pond Contest Voting
We are so excited about our Third Annual Pond Contest. We received some beautiful photos of some fantastic ponds. Take a close look, it may just spur an idea about a pond for yourself!
Vote for your 3 favorite ponds. Voting is open June 17-24 2013. Winners will be announced on Facebook and our website on June 26th.
Pond Contest Prizes include:
1st Place – Gift Basket valued at $200
2nd Place – Gift Basket valued at $100
3rd Place – Gift Basket valued at $50
Please carefully look at all the ponds, (click on the picture of the pond to see a larger version) then vote at the bottom of the page for your 3 favorite ponds.
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Pond Tips for June
Need some pond tips for June? We’ve got them. Summer has arrived and it is time to start changing some of the maintenance activities.
Having a Koi pond at your home is undoubtedly the quickest way to reduce stress and noise that you have to deal with on a regular basis. This peaceful and quiet place is essentially a man-made paradise. Apart from eliminating stress and tension from your mind, a Koi pond is a perfect way of adding beauty to your backyard or any outdoor space. However, it requires some effort to keep it in its healthiest and most attractive condition.
Here are a few other pond tips? Look no further…
- Do not start feeding your pond fish until the pond water is at least 50°F.
- Add beneficial bacteria. Remember beneficial bacteria removes ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and organic debris such as dead leaves, uneaten fish food, fish waste etc., that cause water clarity problems.
- Maintain salt level between 2.5 – 3.0 ppt.
- Switch to higher protein food 2-4 times daily.
- Back flush filter media weekly.
- Minimum 10% weekly water change.
- Check chemical levels.
Whether you have a water garden, pondless water features, large koi pond, or two acre lake, Creative Visions Landscapes can help get what you want out of that body of water and enjoy your pond. We carry many different pond supplies including; pumps, filters, skimmers, liner/underlayment, UV supplies, water treatments, aquatic plants, koi and other fish and fish food. So, if you have a question about your pond, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Landscape Tips for June
Summer has arrived! With an early arrival to summer, you’re sure to want our landscape tips for June. By the way… What happened to the Rose Festival curse? We aren’t sure what to think, but we are loving this beautiful sunshine!
Now that summer is on us, things will start getting dry. Be sure your lawn is getting enough water. As a general rule, you want to get at least an inch of water per week to keep a good green and healthy lawn.
June is still early enough to prune some plants if needed, so you can clean up some plants or do full pruning if needed. Planting new plants can still be done, you may just have to water a little more to keep them bright and plenty healthy.
Just a reminder: We landscape all through the year, every month we are planting new plants, the only difference is during hot dry weather we have to water more. Need some landscaping help? Give us a call.
Here are a few landscape tips for June
- Spray weeds
- Allow bulb foliage to completely yellow and then cut back to the ground
- Prune spring-flowering shrubs and trees
- Make sure raised beds receive enough water for plants to avoid drought stress
- Monitor azaleas, primroses and other broadleaf ornamentals for adult root weevils.
Pond Tips for May
Pond tips… Your pond is about to wake up and come out of hibernation, so you need some pond tips! First, you need to clear out any debris that is in or around your pond. When water temperatures are between 40° and 55°F, clean your pond filter and pump thoroughly.
Spring is a good time to do a partial water change. As ponds awaken, a “spring green” may appear in the water until plants and bacteria get established. This is a normal algae bloom and will clear up on its own once plants have grown and the filter has recovered to take care of excess nutrients.
Do not start feeding your pond fish until the pond water is at least 50°F.
Here are a few other pond tips? Look no further…
- Add beneficial bacteria. Remember beneficial bacteria removes ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and organic debris such as dead leaves, uneaten fish food, fish waste etc., that cause water clarity problems.
- Maintain salt level between 2.5 – 3.0 ppt.
- Back flush filter media weekly.
- Minimum 10% weekly water change.
- Check chemical levels.
Remember, if you have questions about your pond, give us a call or stop by the store. We are happy to help you find a solution to your pond problems. We keep pumps, filters, skimmers, liner/underlayment, UV supplies, water treatments, aquatic plants, koi and other fish and fish food in stock.
Landscape Tips for May
After a long winter, your lawn and gardens may be looking a bit ragged and weary. But, spring is now among us and one of the best ways to get in the spring spirit is to get your yard looking great.
Since we’re having a beautiful May, you are probably ready to start spending some time outside. We bet you’re even looking for some landscape tips to help you get your landscape prepared for summer.
Don’t know where to start? Use these landscape tips and you will be on your way to a beautiful lawn and amazing flowerbeds.
- Divide perennials
- Plant new perennials
- Plants annuals
- Cut back any mums that returned from last year by half
- Manage weeds while they are small and actively growing with light cultivation or herbicides. Once the weed has gone to bud, herbicides are less effective.
- Trap moles and gophers as new mounds appear.
- Check your Irrigation System- Whether you have an in-ground sprinkler system or a hose attachment, you should check to make sure all your sprinklers are working. For an in-ground system- make sure your pump and tank are operating correctly especially if they haven’t run in a few months. Check the sprinkler heads and test them to see if any need to be replaced.
P.S. Did you know… when bringing lilac blooms may be cut and brought into the home you should use scissor-type hand pruners cut off a portion of the woody stem below the flowers. Then, bring them inside and use a hammer to slightly smash the end of the stem to help it better take up water in a vase.
Pond Tips for April
Need pond tips to start preparing for spring?
As the snow starts to melt and the temperature starts to change, it’s time for you to prepare your pond for the warmer months ahead. We are happy to help you shop for all the pond supplies you need to get your backyard in shape for spring and summer.
While every koi pond and water garden has different needs, there are some general preparations you should make as spring approaches. So here are some pond tips to get started.
- Add beneficial bacteria. Remember beneficial bacteria helps pond filters control algae and algae blooms in ponds and koi and fish pools by reducing fish waste and pond scum.
- Maintain salt level between 2.0 – 2.5 ppt.
- Add one dose of Melafix
- Back flush filter media every two weeks.
- If you shut down UV and filter for winter, turn them on.
- Check chemical levels.
- Begin feeding your fish once the water temperature in your pond returns to a consistent 50 degrees
Keep in mind spring is on the horizon, so it’s a good time to invest in a variety of pond supplies you will need in the coming months. It’s better to have them on hand than to find out you’re missing the supplies you need when you are in the middle of cleaning your pond or trying to “de-winterize” it.
Landscape Tips for April
Happy April!
We hope you’re as excited about the upcoming springtime as we are! The trees and flowers are starting to bloom! Spring around Creative Visions Landscapes is always fun. There is so much work to do. We figure you might need a little help with some landscape tips.
- Apply a slow-release fertilizer to perennials beds
- Cut back any perennials not trimmed in the fall
- Apply a soil acidifier around the base of holly and boxwood
- Add mulch or bark to beds if needed
- Complete lawn seeding projects
- Watch for aphids near the perennials
- Divide perennials (now or next month)
- Plant annuals (now or next month depending on weather)
Pond Tips for March
Happy March! We’re getting closer to Pond Season! So, you’ll want to use these pond tips to get the season off on the right foot!
Because of our unpredictable weather here in Oregon, spring pond cleanings usually begin between the end of March and the beginning of June. A cleaning consists of removing almost all the debris that builds up over the previous year such as leaves, dirt, fish waste, etc. In order to do this all the water and fish (placed in a holding tank) will be removed in order to expose the liner.
Need a few pond tips? Look no further…
- Add beneficial bacteria. Remember beneficial bacteria helps pond filters control algae and algae blooms in ponds and koi and fish pools by reducing fish waste and pond scum.
- Maintain salt level between 1.25 – 2.00 ppt.
- Back flush filter media every two weeks.
- If you shut down UV and filter for winter, turn them on.
- Check chemical levels.
Landscape Tips for March
It’s already March! But, like you know the weather in March in Portland is very unpredictable. Plants will start blooming, your grass will start growing and Spring will arrive! Here are a few landscape tips for March.
Landscape Tips – Planning
- Plan the vegetable garden carefully for spring and summer vegetables. If you lack in- ground gardening space, plan an outdoor container garden.
- Use a soil thermometer to help you know when to plant vegetables. Some cool season crops (onions, kale, lettuce, and spinach) can be planted when the soil is consistently at or above 40°F.
Maintenance and Clean Up
- Lawn mowing: Set blade at 0.75 to 1 inch for bent grass lawns; 1.5 to 2.5 inches for bluegrasses, fine fescues, and ryegrasses.
- Compost grass clippings and yard waste, except for clippings from lawns where weed-and-feed products or herbicides (weed killers) have been used.
- Spread compost over garden and landscape areas.
- Cut back most plants.
Pond Tips for February
Seriously it’s February? We can’t believe that one month of 2013 is already gone. But, the good news is that Pond Season is not too far off. However, remember we can still get some cold weather in late February and into March. So even if you see your fish moving around a little bit, do not start feeding them yet. Here are the rest of your February pond tips:
- Check water levels regularly. Keep water levels consistent, adding fresh water
when levels recede. - Don’t let your pond completely ice over.
- Add beneficial bacteria. Remember beneficial bacteria helps pond filters control algae and algae blooms in ponds and koi and fish pools by reducing fish waste and pond scum.
- Maintain salt level between 1.25 – 2.00 ppt.
- Do one back flush of filter media.