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.
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 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.
Landscape Tips for February
It’s February in Oregon…
You never know what kind of weather we’ll get in February. Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow. So, they say we will see an early spring. But, in Oregon, it could be beautiful and sunny, soggy and wet or glistening in snow! No matter what Mother Nature delivers there are some landscaping items that really should be taken care of.
Landscape Tips for February
- Cut back ornamental grasses
- Do dormant pruning of wood shrubs and trees
- Check perennials planted in late summer or fall. Push them back in the soil if they are raised
- Prune suckers from the base of ornamental trees, roses, and shrubs
- Tune up lawn mowers and have the blades sharpened before the rush
Pond Tips for January
We hope the holiday season was full of family and fun! Are you ready for 2013? We can’t believe it’s here already.
We’re all looking forward to spring. But, we’ve still got some winter to deal with. Don’t forget your pond still needs attention!
Here are your pond tips for January:
- Do not allow pond to completely ice over
- Add beneficial bacteria
- Maintain salt level between 1.25 – 2.00 ppt
- Do one back flush of filter media
Landscape Tips for January
Happy 2013!
It’s January, start of a New Year! We don’t know about you, but we’re more than happy to leave 2012 behind. We’re definitely hopeful that 2013 will be a better year! We’ve got a lot of great plans for 2013. So, keep your eyes out for notifications from us! We look forward to sharing this great year with you!
Landscape Tips for January
- Watch for field mice damage on lower trunks of trees and shrubs. Eliminate hiding places by removing weeds. Use traps and approved baits as necessary.
- Check the soil moisture around boxwood and holly, water if needed.
- Snow can be used as mulch on perennials and areas where bulbs were planted last fall.
- Don’t walk on lawns until frost has melted.
- Make sure our recent deluges have not left bulbs and tree roots bare.