Bob Solberg recommends slow release fertilizer or 10-10-10 granular fertilizer be applied as hosta emerge. If applying only liquid fertilizers, apply weekly as the first leaves start to unfurl. Reapply 10-10-10 about 4-6 weeks later during period of rapid growth.

We bought our land 4 years before we built our home. We wanted to build our dream home and were not in a hurry to rush into it and then regret decisions made too quickly. I was the designer on the project and honestly enjoyed all that it entailed. We also had a wonderful builder that made the whole process go seamlessly and stress free. After we chose a house plan and had it updated to include the must-haves on our list, I poured over those plans for hours and hours making sure each room was as ideal as possible. Now is the time to decide if you want an HVAC duct in that place or a light switch or outlet in that spot. Decide if you want floor outlets, special outlets in pantries or cleaning closets. Are the rooms the right size? Could a couple feet make a difference anywhere? I sure wish we had made our laundry room 3 feet wider. Choose as many products as you can before your builder gives you his estimate. If you want granite and he's giving you laminate pricing the cost will be more. Also, painting the interior all one color is less expensive than having several rooms painted differently. Are you going with pre-painted siding or having the exterior custom painted? Are you using brick, cultured stone or natural stone? Huge difference between brick and natural stone. Plumbing fixtures vary in price as do lighting and appliances. Make sure he's taking your choices into account with his bottom line. Think about any upgrades in insulation, soundproofing, radiant heating, etc. The best advice I can give from someone who's been there, done that, is to sit down and really think about how you want the house to look, function and feel....and cost. Are there things you can't do without? For us it was a 3rd garage, his & hers master's closets, a computer space off the kitchen area where we can monitor our son, and a particular type of kitchen layout. Break the house plan down room by room if it's overwhelming but KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. If you're unsure of that then you can be talked into a lot of stuff you will find out later you really didn't need or want. Almost all of us have to stick to a budget so the trick is getting what you want overall at a price you can afford. This website is a treasure trove of information that I'm sure will benefit you in the days to come. Good luck on your build and keep your chin up.

You mean 20x40, right? Because 120x40 is freaking huge and I would say it would cost more! Are they adding rebar? Or just more gunite? I don't know how much this all costs (I am new to a pool myself), but I am just curious. 6" doesn't seem like that much (although I know it is a lot of area to cover for the entire pool). One note, our pool is 4' - 8'. Our kids cannot touch the bottom yet (with their head above water), but they have no problem whatsoever. All the adults can, however. We have only had our pool for a year and although I thought 4' was too deep (my wife wanted it so she could do flip turns while swimming), it has been just fine and when we go to pools that are 3 1/2' it feels really shallow (and kids always end up jumping into the shallow end, even if you don't want them to). Either way, you should get what you want. I think 10k is complete BS, but they have where they want you. Did you ask about 3 3/4' just to see what the price would be? I don't think the depths are science, it is more like "art." They put the rebar in place and they shoot the gunite to about what the depth should be. I am pretty sure that there is not many places where our pool is actually of spec depth. Just my thoughts and opinions, no expert, so take everything with a grain of salt.

I typically use a 50/50 mix of pumice (I find perlite tends to float when watered and therefore, makes your mix uneven) and a mixture of potting soil and worm castings/compost. Tuck the cuttings in. Don't water for 2-3 days to let any bruising heal over. Then water generously until water runs out the drainage hole. It may need more frequent water at the beginning now that they are new cuttings. Don't put in direct sun yet while it's developing roots. When established, you can water as all succulents like to be watered and gradually place it out in a sunnier location.