Stay Safe this Halloween

Enjoy Trick-or-Treating this Saturday - but be safe! Take a moment to review these safety tips from the American Safety Council. Then enjoy some Halloween trivia to share with your friends!

Halloween Trivia

- The first Jack-O-Lanterns were made from Turnips

- Ireland is the birthplace of Halloween

- The largest Halloween parade takes place in New York City

- The colors of Halloween are Orange and Black. Orange represents fall or harvest time and Black represents death.

- The annual sales of Halloween candy in the United States are $2 Billion Dollars

Autumn Lawn Care

A common misconception this time of year is that as the weather gets cooler and the leaves begin to turn that lawn maintenance can take a back seat. On the contrary, Fall is a perfect time to catch up on some much needed lawn care and prep for a beautiful spring yard!

Here's how!

Lower your lawn mower blade to allow for about a 2 inch cut. Shower grass will help keep the lawn from matting under leaves or snow. It will also allow for better sunlight absorption as the days get shorter.

Continue to water your lawn once or twice a week if conditions or dry. Early morning is the best time and will prevent the grown of fungus in the evening.

Apply week killer. The roots will absorb the killer and prevent new growth in the spring.

Rent an aerator - this tool punches holes in the soil to allow in more oxygen, water and fertilizer.

Fall fertilizer allows roots to continue growing and absorb nutrients without the stress from the summer heat! So apply away!

Halloween Party Snacks

Halloween is right around the corner! Hosting a party this year? Here are a few easy and fun ways to put some spook-tacular snacks together!

Create a fun Fall trail mix with candy corn, pretzels, Bugles, Chex Mix and M&M's. Click on the image below to find out more.

Whip up a quick dip with vanilla pudding, cool whip and a can of pumpkin! Click to learn more!

Assemble some witch's brooms with Reeses Cups and pretzel rods!

For a healthy twist - use cut up veggies to create a fun pumpkin treat!

Helping After the Flood

In the wake of the unprecedented rainfall and flooding throughout the state of South Carolina - neighbors are anxious to find ways to help. Fortunately the rains have subsided but there is much to be done.

Here are a few ways you can help!

The State of South Carolina has set up a volunteer and donation phone line specifically for questions about how you can help.  Call 1-888-585-9643

Financial Donations

The Salvation Army -  100% of donations towards disasters go to support relief efforts.

Visit: www.doingthemostgood.org or call 1-800-SALARMY

The Red Cross

Visit: www.redcross.org/donate/weather - make sure to donate to the 2015 Fall Floods account

Flood Buckets

The SC Baptist Association is accepting donations of flood buckets - used for cleaning and restoring homes after water damage. See the below list for items to include. For information on where to donate in your area call 1-803-227-6031

Sales Figures Are Up!

New home sales are at their highest level since August 2008 - a strong starting point for the Fall season.  August's new, single-family homes are up 5.7% over July of this year and up 18% over August of last year.

The positive increase in sales is attributed to low interest rates and better job creation.

New home sales make up 10% of the housing market with the other 90% coming from existing home sales.

According to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders, builder sentiment is at its highest level nearly a decade - the highest since November 2005.  Builders reported better sales conditions and increased buyer traffic.

The median home price comes in at $292,700, an 0.3% increase from this time last year.

Experts estimate there is a 4.7 month supply of new homes still on the market. With concerns over a possible rate increase coming later this year - now is the time to buy!!

Rustic Fall Decor

Rustic, vintage, natural - all words to describe today's trends in home decor. The good news? This design trend lends itself easily to DIY projects and low cost supplies. Here are some ways to decorate your home for Fall using pallets or other found resources.

Pallet Pumpkins

Planters

Wooden Scarecrow

Autumn Signage

Understanding Mulch

With cooler temperatures getting more of us outdoors and working on our yards, it's important to understand some of the unsung heroes of lawn care. This week our spotlight is on mulch. Besides being aesthetically pleasing - mulch provides many other benefits for your yard. Read on!

Benefits of Mulch

• Mulch can help control weeds. Mulch as a ground cover blocks the sunlight and prevents weeds from growing.
• Mulch helps to keep your soil from drying out - a major benefit to surrounding plants.
• A layer of mulch prevents soil erosion by keeping the soil in place during rain storms.
• Mulch warms the soil in the winter and keeps it cool in the summer - leading to more even soil temperatures for your landscaping.
• Decaying mulch adds nutrients back into the soil.

Types of Mulch

There are two major types of mulch - organic and inorganic. Organic mulch comes from natural sources such as tree bark, wood chips or pine straw.

Inorganic mulch includes rocks, pebbles, landscape fabrics and gravel.

Mulch comes in a variety of colors and textures. It helps you define your yard as well as keep it healthy. So what are you waiting for? Get mulching!