FROM THE TOPFROM THE TOPElaine has prompted me several times to get my article done, I

was sitting here staring out my office window (what I do best) and thinking I really should write that article. Not 2 minutes later I got a call from her asking again about my article (she is so bossy). So here we are on the 20th of February and I am getting it done.

I say it every year, but I can’t believe how fast time goes by season after season and year after year, but every year I get excited to get started. We have spent the winter months training and planning for the start of our 46th season. For me, seeing what our team does over the winter is impressive.

Our lawns techs went for continued education training about products and application updates.

Jay and Vernon have been here every day dealing with any snow operations that need to be addressed. They have been at the shop repairing and rebuilding equipment, ordering supplies and products, tweaking programs, and getting everything ready for the spring.

We have upgraded our phone system and software system and Karen and Matt have been working constantly making it more efficient and user friendly. You can now go online at cmslandscaping.com and set up an account or sign in at Customer Log In. There you can pay bills, check your account, and order services. You can also sign up for auto pay and never have to worry about sending us a check or calling with your credit card number.

So, we are ready to go whenever mother nature allows.

Over the years finding the right people to fill positions has truly been our biggest challenge. That’s why it is so special when you have a person on your team who continually shows his dedication to the team and the CMS family. Jay Ouellette is one of those special people. Jay will be starting his 21st season with us this year. How awesome is that! Jay has done absolutely everything that has ever been needed, from irrigation and lawn care to dog fencing and brick sidewalks. We were reminiscing the other day about some of the crazy stuff we’ve done in the last 20 years, like working with Danny Curran and adding a complete second story to the shop building and having to rebuild it again after the fire destroyed it in 2012. Jay is my right hand and has always gone above and beyond for me and our CMS family.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTJay Ouellette

MOWING• Raise your mower blade to the highest

setting• Only take off 1/3 of the grass plant when

you mow.• Mow when grass is dry to avoid clumping• Keep the mower blades sharp• Don’t mow during the hottest part of the

day

• Leave the grass clippings

WATERING• 1.5-2 inches of water per week• Morning or early afternoon is best

REMEMBER OURREMEMBER OURTURF TIPS! TURF TIPS!

Round 1, 2020

45 YEARS 1974-2019

FROM ELAINE’S CORNER OF THE WORLD

Happy Spring!!! As I write this in mid-February, it is hard to believe that we are well past winters halfway point. I even saw a few robins yesterday!!! Fabulous! We are grateful it has been mild here by the shore. Very little snow and only a few really cold days, however, our often-ferocious wind is always present. Trees down and power outages are common, but our house generator is a faithful friend during those times.

For us getting ready for the summer season means getting ready for company, bringing out all the deck and porch furniture, setting up the outside shower, getting the gardens ready, and all the household things that

need to be done. Power washing the deck and house, washing windows and screens, cleaning out the chicken coop, blah, blah, blah. I am already tired just thinking about it, and now I need a nap! Doesn’t it seem like we just did all that in the fall? Argh! But I am hoping they won’t seem like such daunting tasks when the sun is bright and the weather warmer.

As always, when we start a new season I encourage you to call the office or email us at karen@cmslandscaping.com with any changes to your account. Name change, best contact phone number, email address, or any changes/questions about your program or services.

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