Take a look at our October newsletter!
OCTOBER 2023
How Anthony’s Lawn Care and Landscaping Celebrates Halloween Candy, Costumes, and Community
My favorite thing about Halloween is how it makes you feel like a kid again. I have wonderful childhood memories of trick-or-treating and selecting my costume weeks in advance. How you’d dress up was a big decision, but I think I got it right when I was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Donatello at 6. We can’t turn back time, but we try to create that spirit of fun around the office every Halloween. We always make it a point to bring candy for the staff and their kids. Several years ago, we got an inflatable dinosaur costume. Then someone thought mowing lawns with it on would be funny, and suddenly, a tradition was born.
Of course, my family also has plenty of fun at home. I decorate the entire yard, and we dress up for trick-or-treating. I also hand out candy at the house and have a lot of fun seeing the neighborhood children in their different costumes. Andrew gets excited for Halloween, just like I did when I was his age. One year, we dressed up as Pokemon characters; he was Pikachu, and I was Snorlax. Last year, Andrew decided to match his dad by wearing an inflatable dinosaur costume. We bought
We got more inflatable dinosaur costumes and recently added an alien to the collection. Of course, mowing the lawn as a dinosaur is a bit easier (and safer) than trimming tree limbs as one, but employees are allowed to wear other costumes as long as they don’t interfere with their work.
him another option in case the bulk was too much for him, but he wore it all day and loved every minute. Joseph was (and still is) too young to grasp Halloween, but we put him in an adorable hedgehog costume for laughs. The Anthony’s Lawn Care and Landscaping team works hard, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun while doing it. We try to add a bit of levity whenever we can, and Halloween provides the perfect
Did you know We’re offering 15% off tree trimming, leaf removal, and stump grinding services this winter? Plus, all existing clients receive an additional 5% off! These spots fill up quickly, so book early. Call (812) 345-5694 to schedule your service before this deal is gone!
Our customers get a big kick out of it; there’s something delightful about seeing a cowboy trimming your hedges. I even do my daily estimates as a dinosaur. It’s easier than you think because the costume deflates once you remove the head. I can drive to a location, pop the head back on, and be ready to go.
opportunity. I love that Halloween is a day to do and look at things differently, and it shows we’re never too old for a bit of make-believe.
—Anthony Hilb
BLOOMINGTONLANDSCAPE.COM • ANTHONYSTREEREMOVAL.COM • 812-345-5694
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Get Ahead of the Cold
If you have a backyard garden, you may find yourself looking for new ways to use all the crops you’ve grown. After all, there are only so many pumpkins you can carve, seeds you can roast, or squash you can spaghetti.
Your Pre-Winter Lawn Maintenance Checklist
So, instead of looking up “squash recipes” for the hundredth time this week, consider these indoor decor tips that utilize your garden’s
As the air cools and plants begin to die, it’s clear that winter is just around the corner. Lawn care and landscaping are usually kept to a minimum during winter, but the upcoming dormant season still requires preparation. October is the perfect time to protect your investments so you start spring on the right foot. There are three main areas where homeowners should focus their efforts.
bountiful harvest!
A Centerpiece Fall fruits and vegetables make great centerpiece arrangements because they have
Grass Your lawn will probably survive the winter, but you can improve its chances and create a healthier early-spring landscape with pre-season maintenance. Start by raking up any leaves, branches, or other debris from the yard; snow could compress these materials into the ground and kill your grass if left. Once the yard is clear, mow a final time at a shorter length, ideally 2–2.5 inches. Finally, now is the perfect time of year to consider aerating and fertilizing your lawn. Trees The best way to shield your trees from winter is to apply a 2-inch layer of mulch around the base. It will help the roots retain moisture, but remember to leave a few inches between the mulch and the tree trunk. Remove any weak or loose branches to guard against the coming snow and ice. If you have young trees or shrubs, protect them from the elements and hungry wildlife with wire mesh or snow fencing. Flowers Before the cold sets in, remove any leaves, debris, weeds, or dead plants from your flower beds. Remember to remove the entire plant, including the roots. This is also the best time to remove any annuals from your garden and plant or redistribute spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils. You’ll appreciate your hard work once the weather warms up. Finally, do your best to keep salt and snow melt off your natural surfaces this winter. While salt improves safety on sidewalks and driveways, it can get into the ground and kill your plants! Distribute minimally and with caution. If you’re struggling to make time for the above tasks, Anthony’s Lawn Care and Landscaping would gladly help. Call us today for an estimate on winter preparation services and any of your yard’s other needs!
both seasonal colors and unique textures. Consider arranging a few squash or pumpkins in a bowl or basket and topping them with a bouquet of festive flowers. You can also mix herbs like basil, parsley, thyme, or rosemary into the bouquet for fragrance and a fuller appearance. Play with the different shapes and sizes of your gourds. Have them lean against each other or stack them for variation and depth in your display. A Natural Wreath Fresh herbs, flowers, or leaves from your fall harvest are perfect for an autumn wreath. All you need is a wreath form, which you can buy from your local craft store or online, and some floral U-pins. Use large leaves as a base (pumpkin leaves are great), then layer on smaller seasonal herbs such as sage, rosemary, or oregano. Finally, attach some flowers to it! Squash or pumpkin blossoms work beautifully, but you can use any seasonal flower you have growing. An Autumnal Herb Swag A “door swag” is a traditional holiday decoration, and it’s an easy way to add some color to your door without creating an entire wreath. To make a swag, grab a few bundles of your favorite herbs, secure the stems with a rubber band, wrap them with twine, and tie them off, leaving a few inches of twine on both sides. Then, tie those ends together to form a loop and hang the swag on your door!
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THE ADVANTAGES OF DORMANT PRUNING REASONS TO CONSIDER A WINTER TREE TRIM
We give the trees in our yard the least thought during the winter, but colder months are the perfect
contrast, will reserve its energy to heal the “wound” trimming caused. It’s a less stressful process for the tree. Tree trimming can also create the perfect opening for pests and diseases to enter and damage or kill a tree. But since those are also dormant during the winter, the risk is dramatically reduced. From a more human perspective, tree trimming in winter is easier and more efficient. It can be challenging to make out individual branches when trees are full of leaves, especially diseased or damaged ones. While an expert might miss problems with limited visibility, a bare tree provides a full view of the structure so they can make the best appearance and health-related choices. Dormant pruning is also generally less stressful on your lawn. Tree trimming equipment is heavy and can compress your soil and grass. Frozen ground is much harder and less likely to suffer damage. An early winter prune will protect your house from vulnerable tree limbs that could fall from snow or ice. Anthony’s Tree Removal is offering 15% off tree trimming, leaf removal, and stump grinding this winter. Existing customers also save an extra 5%! There’s no better time to keep your landscape healthy at an affordable price. Get this deal before it’s gone by calling Anthony’s Tree Removal for a quote today.
time to offer them TLC. If you believe you shouldn’t trim your trees during winter, it’s time to think again.
Trees enter a state called dormancy in winter — it’s hibernation for plants. The most obvious outward sign is the loss of leaves, but there’s more to dormancy than meets the eye. The colder
temperatures and reduced fall and winter sunlight cause trees to stop photosynthesis, which helps them grow. They survive off stored energy until spring by sitting bare and idle. As a result, dormant pruning has numerous advantages. Trimming during warm months typically results in additional growth. A dormant tree, by
CHECK IT OUT! We also offer junk hauling!
One-Bowl Vegan Pumpkin Muffins Inspired by NoraCooks.com • 15 oz can pumpkin purée • 1/3 cup melted vegan butter (or vegetable oil) • 1/2 cup unsweetened plant-based milk • 1 1/4 cups brown sugar • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour • 1 tbsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp salt • 2 tsp cinnamon • 1/2 tsp nutmeg • 1/2 tsp ground ginger • 1/4 tsp ground cloves INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Prepare muffin pan by greasing and placing paper liners. 2. In a large mixing bowl, add pumpkin, melted vegan butter (or oil), milk, and brown sugar, then whisk until well combined and smooth. With a sifter, sift the flour, baking powder, salt, and spices over the wet mixture. 3. Using a large wooden spoon, mix until just combined (do not over-mix). 4. Fill the muffin cups and bake for 22–25 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes and enjoy!
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PO Box 5427 · Bloomington, IN 47407 What’s Inside? 1 Is That a Dinosaur Mowing My Lawn? 2
Use Your Garden’s Fall Bounty for Home Decor! Get Your Yard Ready for Winter 3 The Surprising Benefits of Winter Tree Trims One-Bowl Vegan Pumpkin Muffins 4
Effortless Elegance: Master Wall Molding in 4 Steps
Turn Your Empty Wall Into a Feature Wall With This DIY Trick
Do you have an empty wall in your house and have no idea how to fill it? Instead of spending months looking for the perfect art piece (or buying something mass-produced from Target), consider using wall molding to level up the area. You can create simple squares or complex geometric patterns — whatever fits your style — with one supply run to a home improvement store and four easy steps. 1. Use painter’s tape to map out the design on your wall. 2. Cut and nail molding pieces to the wall in place of the painter’s tape. (Remember to use your level!) 3. Fill the nail holes with wood filler and disguise gaps between the wall and trim with caulk. 4. Paint your molding to match your wall, or use a contrasting color for extra visual interest.
That’s it! You can easily transform your vacant wall from something plain into any style you choose.
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