In April the Ontario Government released a document outlining the phases involved in their response to COVID-19 including when to ease public health guidelines and a 3 stage framework for how to re-open the province as part of their Phase 2.

Download the PDF document here

Since commercial grade weed killers are not longer available (a good thing for the environment) dandilions have riddled our lawns and not much seems to get rid of them.

A couple years back I stumbled upon a really amazing solution that is totally natural and extremely effective. Corn Gluten.

So what makes it so effective. Its proponents claim that it prevents weed seed from germinating, and if seeds don’t germinate you have a weed free lawn. The reality is Corn gluten inhibits the formation of roots and thats what makes it effective at reducing weeds in your lawn. 

Corn Gluten is not a miracle but it is effective when used frequently over a period of time and timed properly. Because Corn Gluten can suppress the growth of any seedling including grass seed for 4-6 weeks after application you don't want to seed your lawn during that time. 

Corn Gluten is best applied just before rain or when it can be watered into the soil and it's most effective if a dry period follows to further starve roots of pesky weeds.

I have found it to be extremely effective after using it for a couple years in reducing dandilions in my yard. My father-in-laws lawn is pristine after a few years. Mine will take longer but prior to corn gluten I'd been in an annual losing battle of weeding and spraying my lawn for years. With Corn Gluten I've seen a huge improvement.

So where can you get the stuff?

My go to spot is Welcome Feeds in Bowmanville. It's that blue building right on Highway 2 just east of Holt Road. You can visit them on Facebook at facebook.com/welcomefeeds. Right now they are offering contactless curbside pick-up.

Have you been thinking of Selling when this lock down is lifted? Here are some simple tips to increase your homes value and get it ready to sell while stuck at home.

1. Start Painting - This is a quick and inexpensive way to add alot of value to your home.  Stick to neutral colours and remember not all paint is the same.  Applied properly, a good quality paint will look much better to potential buyer's, making them more likely to put in an offer.

2.  Make Repairs - We all have a "to-do" list around the house.  Some of you may be swamped between working from home and schooling your kids.  If your lucky enough to have extra time, why not tackle some of these projects that have been on the back burner.  Make sure not to bite off more than you can chew and only do one project at a time.  When this lock down is lifted you don't want to have multiple projects on the go.

3.  Create Curb Appeal - The weather is starting to turn and the day's are getting warmer.  It is a great time to clean up the yard and do some landscaping.  Check your grading to make sure the spring run-off will flow away from your house.  Some simple chores like; weeding, adding mulch, painting the deck, levelling the interlock and maintaining a healthy lawn can all add value at a very low cost to you.  

4. Decluttering - Being stuck at home you may have noticed that you have way too much stuff! Are some of your things just taking up space and collecting dust? Now is a great time to get rid of the things that you no longer want or need.  Look into local charities and see if they are accepting donations at this time.  You can also book a large item garbage pickup with your local municipality for bigger items that are being thrown out.

5.  Replace Light Fixtures - By replacing old light fixtures you can freshen up a room and create ambiance while improving visibility.  You can also reduce your energy costs with new bulbs, ceiling fans and timers.

6.  Upgrade Appliances - Do you have old mismatched appliances that waste energy and are a complete eye sore? If so, it may be a time for an upgrade.  Most purchase and sale agreements include appliances in good working order.  Buyers may not offer your desired purchase price if the appliances are old and missmatched.  If you are in a luxury home you will want to install high end appliances otherwise uniform standard appliances will be sufficient.  If your  appliances match and are still in good working order, it may not be worth upgrading if you plan on selling within the next 3-6 months.

The world is going through a tough time and staying busy around the house can be a healthy way for us to cope with these challenging times.  Accomplishing small goals is a good way to stay positive and create momentum to carry forward when the lock down is lifted and things get back to normal.  We hope you found this blog helpful and wish you continued health during this difficult time.  If you have any real estate related questions or just want to chat, we would love to hear from you!