OCTOBER NEWSLETTER

Yard Maintenance Projects for the Fall 

Fall is officially in full swing and we couldn’t be more excited! The falling leaves, orange and red decorations, and the cooling weather make for a spectacular season full of fun.  

But with the cooler weather comes an array of yard work and home upkeep. Luckily, there are several things you can do this season to stay on top of your projects and keep your yard beautiful all autumn long!

Your Fall Outdoor Cleanup Checklist: 

• Compile fallen leaves using a rake or leaf blower
• Use those fallen leaves to mulch young trees, shrubs and flower beds
• Trim rogue branches
• Dig up any dead shrubs or trees
• Cut back your perennials
• Aerate your lawn
• Overseed your lawn to ensure fuller grass next spring
• Protect cold-sensitive plants by wrapping them in cloth barriers
• Power wash any decks, fences and siding if needed
• Clean out your gutters
• Clean your tools and store them in a dry place 

Cheers to a beautiful yard this season! 

5 Different Ways to Decorate Your Front Porch for Halloween  

Anyone will tell you that a well-decorated front porch is the perfect way to make a great first impression on neighbors and guests. And with fall in full swing and Halloween just around the corner, you have ample opportunities to spruce up your porch for all to see.  

There are several different ways you can decorate your front porch this season, from spooky-chic to natural and minimalist. But no matter how you decide to decorate, an exciting home entrance is sure to keep you—and your local trick-or-treaters—happy!  

1. Go classically spooky. There’s nothing wrong with keeping your Halloween porch décor classic with all the greats like spider webs, fake skeletons, Jack-o-lanterns, giant spiders, paper bats and more. And don’t miss the opportunity to use your home’s external architecture to create monster faces—like covering your front door in gauze and gluing on large eyeballs to make a door mummy.

2. Stay simple. For those who don’t want to go too far off the beaten path this Halloween, consider keeping your décor simple and elegant this season! Put out just a few pumpkins or Jack-o-lanterns, put a trendy Halloween wreath on your door, and lay down a funny, themed doormat. You can top it off with a few simple strings of fake spider webs and a black paper bat or two. This way, once Halloween is over, you can revert back to your normal fall décor without too much hassle.   
3. Keep it natural. When we think of autumn, we imagine the changing leaves, pumpkins, corn husks, gourds, sweet potato vines and more natural pieces. Take advantage of the seasonal bounty by incorporating some of these items into your porch décor. Create a cascade of pumpkins or gourds down your front steps; set out bunches of fallen branches; or hang a grapevine wreath on your front door.  

4. Try something different. Make your front porch the talk of the neighborhood by doing something a little unexpected this season! For instance, consider defying expectations by keeping your décor white or neutral instead of the normal orange and black color palette. Or use large decorations to make it look like monsters are descending on your home—like these giant spiders that were all the rage during Halloween 2020.  

5. Give maximalism a try. More is more as they always say! If you’re a huge fan of Halloween, and all the décor styles that come with it, don’t be afraid to try a little bit of everything this season. To achieve the “clutter-core” aesthetic this season, go all out with the decorations. We’re talking pumpkins galore, a leaf-adorned front door, banners, painted signs and more. Check out this inside-look into a Halloween-ified, maximalism home from Apartment Therapy for a little inspiration!