Above Ground Swimming Pool Covers

One of the easiest things you can do to protect your pool and keep it looking great for many years, is to invest in a quality swimming pool cover. It is a relatively low cost item, that can save you money and a lot of pool maintenance in the long run.

If you own an above ground pool, you will probably want to invest in two different types of covers. The first type of cover will be used during the warm months, whenever you are actually swimming in your pool. This type of cover is commonly known as a solar cover. The way it looks is sometimes compared to an overgrown piece of bubble wrap. It works by not only keeping debris out of the pool, but also by trapping in the heat accumulated by the water during the warm daylight hours. It is usually placed on the swimming pool in the evening when everyone is finished swimming for the day. This type of cover floats freely on the top of the water and can easily be put on or taken off by two people. One person can complete the task with a little bit more effort, but they will most likely end up getting rather wet.

Ground Cover

The second type of cover you will want to own is a winter pool cover. As an owner of an above ground swimming pool, you'll find that this type of cover is absolutely necessary if you want to keep your pool free of debris. These large, heavy duty covers are generally made of some type of very durable synthetic material that can resist whipping winds and unforgiving winter weather. Most of these covers drape over the entire pool and are strapped down or weighted down along the outside wall of the pool.

Both types of pool covers mentioned here, cost no more than fifty or sixty dollars for most above ground pools. The time and hassle that they save pool owners is well worth the expense.

Above Ground Swimming Pool Covers

Vines and Ground Covers

Here are some good vines and ground covers for you to use in the NORTHWEST

BEARBERRY - A low dense mat like broad-leaved evergreen thrives in sun or shade and prefers a sandy soil. It is a native plant and may be collected from the wild; however, nursery-grown plants establish more easily. Its scientific name is Arctostaphylos Uvaursi.

Ground Cover

DWARF HOLLY-GRAPE - A native plant, known as Mahonia repens, creeps by underground roots and forms a good cover to 10 inches high. Its broad leaves are handsome, and it will live in any soil if it has sun or part-day shade.

CLEMATIS - There are many species and in the Northwest Clematis paniculata is a semi-evergreen and vigorous vine. If permitted, it will reach 30 feet. It likes an alkaline soil and full sun. It produces fragrant white flowers in fall.

COMMON PERIWINKLE - A popular ground cover with pale blue flowers in early spring, Vinca minor will thrive in sun or part shade. Because it will grow in an acid soil it is frequently used as a broad leaved cover between acid-loving rhododendrons and is useful beneath trees where a lawn is difficult to maintain. It grows 10 inches high.

ROSE DAPHNE - A plant with a preference for acid soil, it will trail over banks and walls and is effective in a rock garden. Known as Daphne Cneoram, its broad leaves are attractive throughout the year and its pale pink flowers are beautiful in spring. It forms a dense mat-like growth in sun or part shade.

WINTER JASMINE - A hardy shrub to 10 degrees below zero, it will make a ground cover 3 feet high or its trailing branches, which spread 15 feet, may be trained on a trellis to display its yellow flowers in early spring except West of the Cascades, where it blooms in winter. It likes an acid soil and full sun. You will find it listed as Jasminum nudiflorum.

ENGLISH IVY - A garden vine which clings to walls and tree trunks, often it goes as high as 90 feet, but creeping along the ground it rarely exceeds 8 inches in height. Known as Hedera Helix it is found in many nurseries and is easily propagated from cuttings. Its broad leaves are a good green all year and it will live in sun or shade. It is not particular as to soil type.

ST. JOHNS WORT - Known as Hypericum Mosericmum, this is a fine ground cover, 2 feet tall, for the coastal areas, Puget Sound, Snake River valley and protected valleys. It likes an acid soil and sun or part shade. It has attractive yellow flowers in summer.

WINTERCREEPER - Both Euonymus Fortunei vegetus and the species minimum are used as low ground covers and as climbing vines in all parts of the Northwest. They prefer an acid soil and do well in sun or shade.

Vines and Ground Covers

Five Most Profitable Ground Covers For Your Backyard Plant Nursery

Ground covers are one of the best income producers for small plant nurseries. High in demand, easy to grow and can make you a nice profit. Sound pretty good?

Ground covers are plants that do just that. The start-up costs are fairly low, and it's one of the highest per-square-foot incomes for any plant nursery. They cut down on the threat of erosion and weeds, and reduce the need for watering by their ability to lock in moisture. There simply is a big demand for them, so if you can grow what people want, you could stand to make a lot of money.

Ground Cover

Here are five of the most profitable that you can grow in your backyard plant nursery:

1. Hedera (Ivy) - This is an evergreen ground cover that spreads rapidly. Plus, there are hundreds of cultivars to choose from. Two of the most popular varieties of English Ivy are "Thorndale" and "Baltic."

2. Euonymus - The most popular use is for flat areas. As it spreads, it sends out fast-growing stems that root. The two varieties that are particularly popular are Colorata and Radicans.

3. Hypericum (St John's Wort) - This is a highly-popular ground cover, and can provide erosion control on slopes. It's also used as a medicinal herb as well.

4. Chamaemelum Nobile (Chamomile) - In Europe, this is often used as a lawn substitute. The flowers can also make for a soothing tea, increasing the amount of uses for this popular herb.

5. Thymus Serpyllum - This can make for a nice fragrant ground cover. There are many low-growing varieties that are quite popular, such as lemon thyme and woolly thyme.

To find out what people in your area are looking for, do some research. Talk to landscapers. What plants do they often buy? These are the ones you should be growing.

Most ground covers can be propagated by layering, cuttings or division. Your original plants can be used as parent stocks for future plants to grow, keeping costs low.

When you're ready to sell your plants, you have many options:

Sell directly to landscapers - if you can give them what they want at a better price than they've paid before, you could see a lot of repeat business.

Mail-order sales - specialty ground covers can be hard to find at local retail nurseries, so many people are turning to mail-order sales to find what they're looking for. That's why you should consider placing ads in regional and national gardening magazines.

Retail sales - you can sell directly to the public if your town allows. This allows you to meet a lot of potential customers and get paid right away. Make sure your plants are labeled and get selling!

These are just some of the many ways you can sell your ground covers. Try the five recommended here and you could have some profitable plants in no time. Soon your backyard nursery will be the profit center of your dreams. To learn more, read How to Start a Profitable Backyard Plant Nursery, available at: http://extraincomebulletin.com

Five Most Profitable Ground Covers For Your Backyard Plant Nursery

Swimming Pool Covers

A swimming pool can provide families with hours of entertainment and the opportunity for healthy recreation. However, unless care is taken, swimming pools can prove very dangerous. The sad fact is that it takes just thirty seconds for a child to drown. It is for this reason that pool covers can be so valuable.

Swimming pool covers provide many useful functions, such as maximizing the benefits of the pool-heating system, thereby cutting back on the portion of the energy bill devoted to keep the pool temperature perfect. Hard-top swimming pool covers also function as a backup to a pool fence (an absolute safety necessity), ensuring that if a little child wanders onto a covered pool, he or she will not get entangled in a flimsy cover, which is a drowning hazard. Warmer environments only require simple plastic swimming pool covers -- just to keep the pool clean and protected from airborne dust, dirt, and leaves when not in use. The choice of the type of swimming pool cover is determined by what the particular necessities are.

Ground Cover

Swimming pool covers come in a variety of choices: net pool covers, mesh pool covers, vinyl/in-ground pool covers, etc. They adapt to rocks and waterfalls and don't obstruct views. A mesh pool cover has a tight-fitting safety barrier, and it prevents unwanted entry, reduces maintenance, keeps pool free of debris, and reduces evaporation. A vinyl pool cover boasts an outstanding safety barrier, and it operates with the turn of a key, seals out dirt and leaves, insulates and retains heat, and reduces chemical loss. All-Safe and Katchakid are two of the many manufacturers of swimming pool covers.

The mesh swimming pool covers serve dual purposes: safety and protection of the pool from leaves and debris. Mesh covers are used extensively throughout the U.S. to close down or winterize pools. The fabric of the swimming pool cover is a unique blend of polypropylene and is impervious to chlorine and mildew. Most swimming pool covers provide an adequate level of safety if properly cared for. However, care should be taken to choose a pool cover that is high in quality and one in which the mesh pool cover straps go completely across the cover on both the top and bottom of the cover. Also, the spacing of the straps on the mesh pool covers greatly affects the overall strength.

Swimming Pool Covers