Feed, Weed or Seed?

What should I do first, put down seed or kill my weeds?  This is the question I get more than any other this time of year.  Here is the way I try to layout the options:

Do you have less than 75% good grass with bare spots larger than a few inches in diameter?

Answer: If lots of larger spots, then seed this spring.  Be sure to use a special Starter Lawn Food plus Weed Preventer that is compatible with grass seed (the regular crabgrass preventers will keep grass seed from growing).  If you do not prevent weeds when you seed, you are likely to be very disappointed as crabgrass and other weeds will germinate and choke out your good grass before it has a chance to take hold.  A machine called a slit-seeder will help make sure the grass seed comes in contact with the soil.  You just select the Turf Builder Grass Seed blend that is right for your conditions, such as sun, shade, heat-tolerant, etc.  If you only have a few bare spots to take care of, consider Scotts EZ Seed.  I think this is the best bare spot repair product we have ever sold!  Spread the Starter Lawn Food plus Weed Preventerafter you put down the seed.  Feed your lawn again in one month after seeding withTurf Builder Lawn Food.  Once your new grass has been mowed 4 times, you can kill weeds with Ortho Weed B Gon MAX plus Crabgrass Killer.

Do you have more than 75% good grass however your lawn is thin and weedy without widespread bare spots?

Answer:  You may be surprised how your good grass will fill in with four feedings a year at 6 to 8 week intervals.   Here is a schedule for the year:  Feed your lawn now with Scotts Turf Builder with Halts Crabgrass Preventer.  In 6 to 8 weeks after your first feeding, feed again with Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed if you have lots of weeds or if you only have a few weeds, your second feeding can be Turf Builder Lawn Food and spot treat your weeds with Ortho Weed B Gon MAX plus Crabgrass Killer.  Put down Scotts GrubEx sometime in May or June.  In 6 to 8 weeks after your second feeding, feed again with Scotts Turf Builder with SummerGuard to control insects.  In 6 to 8 weeks after your third feeding, in late summer/early fall, feed with Turf Builder Lawn Food.

If you have questions during the year, the Scotts Help Center folks will be happy to help you.

Ants - Controlling Them Inside The House

Controlling Them Inside The House

The first line of defense is making your place unattractive to them. Make sure to wipe up spills immediately and wipe off counters, tables and stovetops regularly leaving no crumbs behind. Sweep and wash floors regularly. Don’t leave dirty dishes around the house or in the sink. Keep dry foods (like flour, cereal, sugar, oats, etc.) in air tight containers. Take out garbage regularly and wash out all food packaging and pop bottles before putting in the recycle bin.

Although a sloppy environment will attract them, having them in your home doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a poor housekeeper–they could be after water. If it’s dry outside and there’s not a nearby water source, they will be inside on the hunt for water. They’ll find it in houseplants, sinks and drains, pet water dishes and cups left out containing liquids.

List Of Natural Repellents

Look for cracks or holes in the house where they are coming from, spread any of these repellents around the holes (or combination of items on the list). Also spread around window sills, along baseboards, in corners and outside doors. The theory is that since they are repelled by these items, they’ll turn back. Success of the repellents can depend on the species of ants in your home.

• Cinnamon
• Ground Black Pepper
• Bay Leaves
• Whole Cloves
• Red Chili Powder (sprinkle liberally or make a paste with water and apply at entrance)
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Salt
• Used Coffee Grounds
• Sage
• Cucumber Peels
• Essential Oils: Peppermint, Lavender, Eucalyptus. Swab these around entrance points.

Tip: Plugging holes and cracks with caulking or filling with vaseline will physically block them from entering.

Food Barriers

The ants could be attracted to your pet’s food dish, a potted plant or dish of candies. Either keep food sealed until needed or surround it with a water barrier so they can’t get to the food. Fill a baking pan with water and set the pet food dish (or potted plant, etc.), in the middle. Mixing in a little liquid dish detergent with the water will be a strong repellent as well as prevent the water from becoming a water source for them.

If it’s a potted plant that’s infested, repot the plant in a fresh pot of soil, washing roots clean of previous soil. You can try submerging the pot in a bucket of water for about 15 minutes to make them flee, but this won’t remove larvae that may be present.

7 Ways To Loosen A Jar Lid That’s Stuck Tight

Most times we can open jars of food with little to no problem, a bit of pressure is applied as we’re twisting and then “pop”, the seal is broken and the lid comes off with ease. Occasionally though it just won’t budge, even after bringing some serious muscle power to the job…so how does one remove them?

Here are a few different ways you can conquer the problem:

1. Take a butter knife and give the lid a few good wacks along the top edge (turning the jar incrementally while you hit it), this should help break the seal and make the lid come off easily. Use the smooth edge of the knife (or the handle) against the lid and you’ll need to whack it (not light taps), but not so hard you shatter the glass. This is the method my grandmother taught me as I was growing up and it’s my “go-to” fix when problems arise, I’d say it has a 99% success rate.
2. Put on rubber or latex gloves so you can grip really well when twisting.
3. Lightly moisten a dishcloth or towel and use that to grab hold of the lid and twist, this also gives you more gripping power.
4. Try breaking the seal by running the jar under hot water for up to a minute (tilt jar down so the water can reach the underside of the lid). Giving the lid a few wacks with a butter knife while doing this can also help speed up the process. You can also put the jar upside down in a bowl of hot water (just an inch or so deep to cover the lid edge) and leaving for up to a minute before trying again.
5. Rubber bands will do the trick too! You’ll need a wide one to place around the lid edge then grab hold of it to squeeze and twist. Not working? Try another wide rubber band, this time placing around the glass jar so you have two firm places for gripping.
6. Keep a square of rubberized non-slip drawer and shelf liner in with your kitchen gadgets, this can also be used to give you more gripping power (drape over jar before twisting off lid).
7. Try breaking the seal by giving the bottom of the jar a good wack with the heel of your open hand. You may need to do this a couple times. You could also wack the bottom on the countertop (cover with a towel first to prevent damaging the surface), do so with enough force to break the seal without shattering the glass.

Non-toxic Cleaner

A natural and effective bathroom cleaner can be created using baking soda and Murphy Oil Soap, a biodegradable, phosphate-free vegetable oil soap invented in 1905. Sprinkle some baking soda on porcelain bathroom fixtures and rub with a wet rag. Add a little Murphy Oil Soap to the rag and continue rubbing. Rinse well. For the toilet, apply baking soda inside the bowl and follow with a bit of Murphy Oil Soap. Scrub with a toilet brush. Wear an old pair of socks over your hands like mittens while you scrub with the soap. This two-handed method will have your furniture, mantels, tabletops, cabinets, blinds, and ceiling fans dusted in half the time.

Existing Home Sales Hit 3 Year High, Home Prices Rise

U.S. home resales (the largest segment of the housing market) hit a three-year high in February and prices jumped, adding to signs of an acceleration in the housing market recovery.

The National Association of Realtors said on Thursday existing home sales increased 0.8 percent to an annual rate of 4.98 million units last month, the highest level since November 2009. The January sales pace was revised upward to 4.94 million units from the previously reported 4.92 million units.

The median home sales price in February rose 11.6 percent from a year ago to $173,6000.

In a separate report, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported that New Home Starts rose. Building Permits for new construction approached a five-year high.

Save money and get gas

One great way to update your home is with new appliances! Right now Sears is having a sale on appliance - but before you go, stop at Giant Eagle and get your gift cards.

For March Madness - Giant Eagle has 20 cents fuel perks for all gift cards until April 3rd.

Springtime critter prevention tip

A great tip to prevent critters like bunnies from eating your plants coming up this time of year. Get a bar of Irish Spring original soap and a cheese grater. Walk around your plants and grate the soap so soap shavings are all around your plants.

Over time the rain will wash it away without staining your mulch. I recommend get a cheese grater just for the soap. Repeat until your plants get large enough so critter stop eating them. If you see signs they are eating your plants... Grate some soap.

I have found out that deer don't like the soap but its not 100% fool proof. The best trick and what I do is soap and an ultrasonic device.

Great lighting - great prices

We always need great lighting in our homes.  Capital Lighting, located in Polaris at 901 Polaris Parkway, Columbus Ohio 43240 has one of the best selections.  You can spend hours looking for the correct lights there.

But, now is the perfect time to go there, Store Wide Sale!  Everything is 25% off.

Click here and get the coupon and start shopping.

Flooring upgrades

+Rite Rug  A great place to get Flooring upgrades is Rite Rug at their annual Warehouse Sale.  It's a great way to start the new year, save money and give your house a great new look.

Rite Rug's site

Central Ohio Housing Report - February 2013

Central Ohio Housing Report - February 2013

Rents and prices rising in '13

Central Ohio home sales for the first two months of 2013 were up 19.6 percent (2,878), compared to last year (2,406). There were 1,452 home sales in February, which is 14.9 percent higher than in February 2012, according to the Columbus Board of REALTORS®.

“We haven’t seen sales increases like this since housing peaked in ’06 and ‘07,” said Chris Pedon, President of the Columbus Board of REALTORS®. “We are looking at a new housing market; one that’s smart and affordable, but also competitive.”

New listings added to the market in February totaled 2,880 – 5.9 percent higher than February 2012. The number of homes for sale in central Ohio inched up slightly from last month (8,935) to 9,035. Still, the inventory of homes for sale in central Ohio remains at its lowest point in more than a decade (summer 2002).
The median sales price of a home sold in central Ohio in February was $122,000, up 1.7 percent compared to one year ago ($120,000). The average sale price was $149,887, a slight drop (-0.6 percent) from the same time last year ($150, 757).

“The combination of increased sales and low inventory will drive up home prices in the months to come,” added Pedon. “As we head into the buying season, we’re going to see sellers get much more aggressive with their pricing.”

Rents are also rising due to demand. Although permits have risen, apartment construction slowed to a crawl after the housing boom and is still below historic norms and much of the available rental space was filled with displaced homeowners over the last couple years.

Rents grew 3.8% in 2012, up from 2.4% in 2011 and 2.3% in 2010, according to real-estate research service Reis Inc. The firm projects annual increases of 4% to 4.5% through 2016.

Central Ohio REALTORS® agree as 11 percent said rents have increased “a lot” since last year and 56 percent said rents have increased “somewhat” according to the latest Housing Market Confidence Index (by the Ohio Association of REALTORS®).