Tips for winterizing your lawn and garden
Canada's gardening guru, Mark Cullen, shares some great tips on winterizing your lawn and garden. It's not too late to save some plants!
MARK CULLEN: Summer Lawn Care Tips
By Mark CullenIt's just about that time of year when your lawn begins to look a bit shop-worn. The tremendous burst of green growth that occurred early in spring is waning and soon ‘the bloom is off the rose’ to use a metaphor from another part of the
MARK CULLEN: Busy in the Garden
This month I have great plans to be busy in the garden. This list is a quick summary of what To Do in your garden.a. This is a great time to plant, after all. And stake. I recommend that you acquire some stakes and bang them into the ground around
MARK CULLEN: Late Summer Lawn Care
By Mark CullenThis time of year is perfect for thickening an established lawn or starting a new one from seed. The cool evening temperatures, heavy dew, regular rain falls and shorter days are perfect for grass seed germination.How Do You Start?Rake
MARK CULLEN: Early Spring ‘To Do’ List
While it is difficult to know where to start where garden chores are concerned this time of year, I am about to provide clarity and eliminate that excuse for ignoring the topic.Here is precisely where you should start.Hose the place down. I am not in
MARK CULLEN: Dividing Peonies
Peonies are a classic summer-flowering perennial found in many gardens across Canada. Very old peonies need to be divided when they stop blooming at the centre of the plant. This is the time of year to divide them. You will need a good garden fork, a
Mark Cullen: Low Maintenance Gardening = Mulch, Mulch, Mulch
By Mark CullenThere is really no other activity in the garden that will both benefit your plants and free up your time quite like mulching.You spread mulch to reduce weeding by about 90% the first year, reduce watering by up to 70% and provide an
MARK CULLEN: Gardener’s To-Do List for the Middle of August
By Mark CullenWe are on the continental divide of the gardening season. On your right is the last 4 months that you invested and the flowers and fruit that your garden has produced to date. On your left is another 4 months [or so, depending on where you
MARK CULLEN: Canada Blooms
Canada’s largest flower and garden festival is only a few days away. From March 14-23, 2014, Canada Blooms returns to the Direct Energy Centre celebrating its 18th Anniversary as Canada’s largest flower and garden festival. In 2014, Canada Blooms will be
Mark Cullen’s ultimate spring checklist
1) Start seeds indoors, to plant out in springIt is a lot of fun and a great way to engage kids in the hobby of gardening at virtually any age. Successful seed starting combines quality materials and good timing. And of course – seeds! Be sure to
MARK CULLEN: Fight the Winter Blues
Reduced light levels and long cold days can take their toll on us. Resist the temptation to close the curtains and hibernate until spring. There are many 'gardening' activities to keep you busy.The air in your home can be very dry during the winter. Dry
A sneak peek of Mark Cullen’s new book, The New Canadian Garden
Introducing my new book, The New Canadian Garden. It is a picture book, an educational approach to the new gardening basics, a reference gardening guide and a glimpse into the future of gardening in Canada. I am very proud of it. Who is it written for?
Mark Cullen: Give Your Dad the Best Lawn on the Block!
By Mark CullenGive your Dad a great looking lawn this Father’s Day! Put together a ‘kit’ of lawn stuff that will help him to produce the great looking lawn that he dreams of. And believe me, he DOES dream of these things. I know: I am one.Your ‘lawn
MARK CULLEN: Spring-Flowering Bulbs in Containers
By Mark CullenIt never fails. Every year at this time I receive an email from a gardener who has forgotten to plant their tulip bulbs. My advice to them: Why not create a containerized display to impress the neighbours next spring?This recipe also works
MARK CULLEN: Let it Snow
By Mark CullenLooking for the best insulator in the business for plants – one that is free? I have it for you – Snow. It acts as an insulator and protects your garden from the cold and frost. It is important to remember that a heavy snowfall can also
MARK CULLEN: How to Shop at the Garden Centre
When you visit the garden center it can often be overwhelming. I am often approached by gardeners asking me ‘where to start’. I offer this information to help point you in the right direction.1. Good value does not always equal the lowest price. While
Mark Cullen: Gardening in Small Spaces
By Mark CullenLess than one quarter of new residences currently being built in the GTA are ‘single family detached’. Almost two thirds of new homes are condos.The concept of ‘the average lot size’ could be several hundred square feet located way off the
MARK CULLEN: Harvest Time
By Mark CullenI am always happy to hear from gardeners who have jumped on the ‘grow your own’ band wagon. Many first-time veggie gardeners are contacting me to find out what to do with their abundance of tomatoes, squash, carrots and the like. “What
MARK CULLEN: The Dirt on Spring Planting
We are approaching planting time: with many Canadians finally getting closer to the good spring weather that we have been waiting for.This is your very best opportunity to build a foundation for your garden this year that will support plant life and grow
MARK CULLEN: Goodbye September, Hello Fall!
By Mark CullenAny semblance of ‘summer’ is about to slip between the tines of my manure fork. September is on its way out the garden gate and I still have lots that I want to do in the garden. For one, I have not started to plant any fall ‘Holland’
MARK CULLEN: For the Love of Trees
By Mark CullenMuch has been said about the benefits of trees in our neighbourhoods – especially urban communities. Trees sequester carbon and produce prodigious amounts of oxygen. Trees filter pollutants from the air. Trees filter toxins from water and
Mark Cullen: Planning your Dream Garden
By Mark CullenReap the Rewards of Creativity and PreparationThe majority of Toronto’s inhabitants reside in an urban, densely populated area. Despite limited planting real estate, with the help of a solid plan we can still enjoy beautiful gardens and
MARK CULLEN: Dog Days in the Garden
As your kids head off to school, you might be thinking that your house is all too quiet and organized. Perhaps this is the perfect time for you to get a dog.If you are fortunate enough to have a yard where your pet can run and skip and chase squirrels,
MARK CULLEN: Taking Care of Your Garden
By Mark CullenAutumn is a great time of year to take a leisurely approach to your garden. Without the weeds growing to beat the band and insects pretty much out of the picture you might think that all there is to do is to bring in the harvest, cut your
MARK CULLEN: Grow Your Own – Seed Starting Tips
As we wade out of the deep freeze of a Canadian winter, I am reminded that spring is not all that far away when I look at the list of seeds that need starting this time of year.Some of the favourites that you should consider sowing right now include
MARK CULLEN: Winter Prep for Your Home Garden
Here in my zone 5 garden we have turned a significant page in the gardening year. Last week we experienced our first killing frost. This draws to our attention the fact that we are well into the autumn season. That means that we need to be thinking of
MARK CULLEN: Salt Alternatives
By Mark CullenHardware stores in the GTA are finding it a challenge to keep salt in stock. Home owners are scrambling to clear the thick layers of ice from their sidewalks and driveways. This makes me think of all of the salt that we use, which is a
MARK CULLEN: Caring for Roses
By Mark CullenIt is early summer and your roses have almost finished their first flush of great looking blossoms. Now is the most important time to feed them!Roses require nutrients to produce blooms. If you used Smartcote "Feed and Forget" Rose Food
Mark Cullen’s Veggie Garden Primer Tips
Canadians have fewer diversions in late winter: swimming, boating, fishing and, yes gardening, are distant memories. It is difficult to even remember what warm sunshine feels like, never mind get outdoors and absorb some vitamin D.Oh for those spring
MARK CULLEN: Water, Water Everywhere
By Mark CullenOf all the current trends in gardening perhaps the use of water as a garden feature has the legs to last a generation or more. Take a look over the back fence of any home in the GTA these days and chances are you will find either a full
Mark Cullen: Garden Design – Where to Begin
By: Mark CullenWhen I started out on the adventure of creating my ‘dream’ garden I had no idea how much I would learn through the exercise. In my enthusiasm to get to the job of planting I forgot some very important tenets of garden design that I wish
MARK CULLEN: Amaryllis Add Much Needed Colour to Your Home
By Mark CullenWith a winter wonderland outdoors, gardeners are looking for ways to grow blooms indoors. I always recommend growing an amaryllis. They are easy to grow and provide an outstanding show.The giant, chunky bulb that you can buy at garden
MARK CULLEN: What is Bugging Your Garden?
By Mark CullenWhere bugs and diseases are concerned I am a proponent of ‘live and let live’ for the most part. The vast majority of pests in the garden are either beneficial or benign. Ladybugs eat aphids, birds munch on beetles and the larvae of moths
How to Build a Terrarium
Weren’t born with a green thumb? Not to worry, some of Mark Cullen’s gardening tips are beyond my gardening abilities too! Don’t get discouraged though, try a smaller (but awesome) project like a terrarium instead. This idea is especially good for condo
Stateview on the Mark Groundbreaking Cutline
Stateview Homes Breaks Ground at on the Mark
National home sales fall for the fourth month in a row
The Canadian Real Estate Association released its national home sales results for December 2018, marking the fourth consecutive monthly decline in sales activity.
The Toronto Land Transfer Tax underperformed in 2018
It came to light recently that Toronto’s municipal Land Transfer Tax, after a decade of good fortune, will miss the mark this year.
The Enclave opens its gates next weekend
Next weekend marks the grand opening of The Enclave at Forestbrook in Richmond Hill, where Heathwood Homes offers luxurious townhomes in a location that defies the ordinary.
How to get your home ready for back-to-school
We know it’s not technically the end of summer, but for families with children in school, the beginning of September marks the end of the season.
The Winners of the 2014 eVolo Skyscraper Competition
Propagate Skyscraper: Carbon Dioxide StructureThe winners of the 2014 eVolo Skyscraper Competition have been announced, and a Canadian team won third place!Marking the competition’s ninth anniversary, eVolo Magazine’s Skyscraper Competition recognizes
Mark Pavkovic of National Homes
Hero name: Manager of Land Acquisition and DevelopmentAllegiance: National HomesSecret Identity: Mark PavkovicAge: 33Time Active: 11 yearsOrigin Story:Mark attended the University of Western Ontario with hopes of getting into investment banking. School
Successful Fieldgate opening marks beginning of busy fall market
Throughout the summer, sales in the new home market and resale market dropped. Some blamed high prices, some blamed the record low inventory. The only constant was the faith in the fall market. In the new home market report for July 2017 from the
Peter Gilgan Makes his Mark on Bay Street in Toronto
On August 26, 2013, SickKids celebrated their largest transformational gift with the naming of their new Toronto building dedicated to children’s health research and learning.The naming of the new SickKids buildingPeter Gilgan, the CEO and founder of
Making her mark in a man's world
Successful home builder Denise Higgins and her husband Tim own Blue Forest Homes, which builds high-end custom homes in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.
Picasso Interior Design Hits The Mark
It's called Picasso, occupies one of the most enviable sites in all of Toronto and is built by two of our most prestigious real estate companies, Monarch Corporation and The Goldman Group.
Landmart Making Their Mark in Grimsby
Escarpment Estates is a community by Landmart Homes in Grimsby. With lots to do and see, this neighbourhood is perfect for any loving family.What’s available at Escarpment EstatesAt Escarpment Estates, Landmart is offering a wonderful selection of
Lamb Leaving his Mark in Calgary
One of the funnest things we’ve done in the past few months is check out some new and innovative projects outside Ontario. We have looked at La Tour des Canadiens in Montreal, and Claridge Icon in Ottawa, and today we are casting our gaze to the far
Groundbreaking Marks Milestone At Gibson Square
The recent groundbreaking celebration held at the Novotel Hotel for Gibson Square Condominiums drew a crowd of excited purchasers, who 'dug into' a fabulous cake in the shape of Menkes' spectacular condominium community at the corner of Yonge Street and P
Nautique marks the beginning of a design renaissance in Burlington
Burlington’s condo scene is going through a design renaissance and it’s all thanks to Adi Development Group. Their now completed Mod’rn is a boutique condo that nearly sold out in the first few hours of opening. The now under construction LINK features
GTA New Home Sales Continue to Climb
The Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) recently announced that February’s number of new home sales in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) marks the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year increases.New homes sales in the
Resale Market on Course for a New Record for Home Sales this Year
The Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) released its monthly resale housing market figures for July 2015, announcing a big jump in sales and a very low inventory of homes.There were 9,880 sales reported through the MLS system last July, marking an 8%
Local officials join Geranium to celebrate the grand opening of Courts of Canterbury
You can now buy a new home at Courts of Canterbury in Port Perry by Geranium! The recent ribbon cutting marked the official grand opening of the highly anticipated community.
Zuckerberg Wants More Privacy!
By Penny MunozAs Facebook announced their latest changes on reduced privacy policies earlier last week, CEO Mark Zuckerberg spent $30 million on securing his own privacy.With the last home closing just days ago, Zuckerberg has purchased a total of four
What does BIG's King West design mean for Toronto architecture?
If you Google "Toronto architecture" and then go to “Architecture of Toronto” on Wikipedia, the opening paragraph says it is “most marked by its being the financial capital of Canada, as well as the political capital of Ontario.” It goes on to say that
Name a Waterfront Street in Bayside Toronto!
If you’ve been waiting for that one opportunity to leave your mark on the wonderful city of Toronto, this is your big chance! Waterfront Toronto is asking for your help to name the street for the Main Waterfront Drive in the new Bayside Toronto
Perspective Condos: Live Large in Small Spaces
Pianosi Developments treats buyers at its exciting new Perspective Condominiums to a design seminar featuring industry expert Glen Peloso. Pictured (L-R): Milborne Real Estate’s Vice President Mark Partin and Sales Agent Rita Novak with Celebrity
Trimart: The Latest Low-Rise News
Total market low-rise sales year to date as of August 2013 reached 11,716, which is 65% of the annual Trimart forecast. The Total Market Area (TMA) witnessed steady sales gains in August achieving 1,187 sales for the month, marking the fourth highest
Moshe Safdie Celebrates First Canadian Condo in 48 Years
Marking an exciting milestone for the East Bayfront neighbourhood, Great Gulf and Waterfront Toronto celebrated the official groundbreaking of Monde, a 44-storey, LEED Gold Certified condo designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie, who was in
Are you attending the Nautique preview opening?
Last month, we posted about Adi Development Group’s first high-rise condo development in Burlington, Nautique Lakefront Residences. What did we say about it? Oh yeah, we said that Nautique marks the beginning of a design renaissance for the city, and
How to Choose the Right New Home Builder
By Mark SalernoWhen you decide to buy a brand new house or condominium, choosing the right builder is as important as choosing your home. When you purchase a home, you also “buy” the company that will build it. Your satisfaction will depend on their
Tour the Vienna Orchards model home in East Hamilton!
Looking for a new home in Hamilton? Zeina Homes is hosting an open house at the model for their Vienna Orchards community on Saturday, February 4th. We’re giving you nearly a month’s notice because this will be a packed event and you should mark it in
Trimart: New Low-Rise Makes a Comeback!
According to Trimart Research Corporation, October 2013 marks a big comeback for the new low-rise market. October sales across the Total Market Area were up 51.3% compared to September, and up 22.2% from October 2012. Trimart reported 2,310 new low-rise
Spending and Saving on Bathurst Street
Public art does, I think, serve an important intangible purpose: it makes public spaces more compelling, both for residents and for visitors, and as a visible show of support for the arts in general, helps mark a city as progressive and culturally
Monarch and Mattamy Break Ground at Riva del Lago in Etobicoke
Big news for the Etobicoke waterfront - the ground has been broken at Riva del Lago, marking the first major milestone since Mattamy Homes officially announced the purchase of Monarch.“We are excited to celebrate this milestone and look forward to being
Newmarket’s first new condo in 30 years is now selling!
The recent grand opening was a huge success! Uptown Newmarket’s Urban Centre is poised for a density boost, and The Davis marked the beginning of a new era for the neighbourhood.
Save money: Save Seeds
By Mark CullenYou planted them. You watered and nurtured them to maturity. Now, why not harvest them?This is the best time of year to collect seeds from your favourite plants: clean them, sort them and save them for planting next year. For many of the
Wesley Tower is coming to Mississauga this August!
It has arrived - the first rendering of Wesley Tower, marking Daniels’ triumphant return to the award-winning, 23-acre master-planned, mixed-use Mississauga City Centre. Some know it as the Daniels City Centre. Designed by Rafael & Bigauskas
Canadian Home Sales Decline for Fifth Consecutive Month
Recently, the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) released its report of Canadian home sales for January 2014.Canadian home salesAccording to the CREA, January 2014 marked the fifth consecutive month-over-month decline for Canadian home sales.
Rate hike can benefit the housing market
The Bank of Canada announced a raise of its key policy rate by 25 basis points, up to 0.75%, marking the first hike since September 2010, in the context of an economy approaching “full capacity” and inflation expected to reach its 2% target in the next
Pug Awards X - Lessons from Chicago
Earlier this week, Newinhomes.com had the privilege of attending the 10th Annual Pug Awards. This year’s event marked the 10th and last People’s Choice Awards, and the eighth Pug Talk.Before we get into how interesting the Pug Talk between Chief Planner
3D Printing and Construction
By Penny MunozAccording to architect Adrian Priestman, he is the first one to implement 3D printed construction elements into an actual building. The rooftop canopy of the Bevis Marks development in London is fabricated from pieces that were individually
JFK’s Custom Home for Sale
By Penny MunozThis year marked half a century of the tragic assassination of one of America’s most loved presidents. Widely covered by the media, John F. Kennedy’s life was memorialized for this special anniversary in Dallas, resonating a nation’s
Cutting Your Home Energy Costs
By Mark SalernoDid you know that you may be eligible for a 10 per cent refund on your Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) mortgage insurance premium if you use CMHC insured financing to purchase, build, or renovate your home to make it energy
September: Interior Design Month
With a new month, comes a new theme on the Newinhomes.com Blog. Since September marks the beginning of fall, and fall is all about the changing of colours and an overall drastic change to our outdoor scenery, we decided that “Interior Design” would be an
Do you want a home with artificial intelligence?
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic lately. Recently, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said that Elon Musk’s pessimistic view of AI was “pretty irresponsible.” Musk replied by calling Zuckerberg’s understanding of AI “limited.”While leaders
Construction Update: Pears on the Avenue
We recently had the opportunity to check out the construction progress over at Menkes’ Toronto development, Pears on the Avenue. We met with Site Superintendent, Mark Mulvenna, who brought us up to speed.Construction progress at PearsLast time we visited
National Home Sales Climb Higher for Seventh Consecutive Month
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) released its national monthly home sales figures, announcing a 1.8 percent increase in activity through Canada’s MLS Systems between July and August 2014.This marks the seventh consecutive monthly increase in
The Best of All Things in 2014
With both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day falling on our usual newsletter day, this marks my last column of 2013. It’s been an exciting year, and unlike a couple of years ago when the excitement all came from the market, a lot of the excitement in the
Rosehaven Homes celebrates 25 years of excellence
2017 marks the 25th anniversary of Rosehaven Homes, one of the Greater Toronto Area’s (GTA) most distinguished and well respected builders. You can learn a lot being in the industry for that long, so we got in touch with President of Rosehaven Homes,
Kylemore's Healthy Lifestyles Community BBQ
For the past 12 years, residents have gathered for the annual BBQ to mark the beginning of summer. The BBQ has grown in popularity and brings residents and prospects together from Kylemore Communities Angus Glen East Village, West Village and Yorkton.
Canvas Condominiums officially under construction!
Marlin Spring COO Zev Mandelbaum (fourth from right) joined colleagues and dignitaries who recently hoisted shovels to mark the Official Groundbreaking Celebration for CANVAS Condominiums on Danforth Avenue. Over 90 % sold, CANVAS is located steps
