Fall Fun Facts:
The trees in just one acre of forest can drop as much as 4,000 pounds of leaves every autumn.
The official astronomical start of Autumn–The Fall Equinox–is September 23. The meteorological start is September 1. The difference between the two is meteorological fall is based on the annual temperature cycle and the calendar year. Astronomical fall is based on the position of the earth to the sun.
In autumn fewer hours of sunlight and colder temperatures trigger a chemical change in tree leaves. That’s why they can turn different colors such as red, orange, yellow, and brown. In some areas leaves become so bright they’re visible from outer space.
Leaves are green in the summer because of the chemical chlorophyll. Because of the decrease in daylight, the leaves stop making the chlorophyll and turn colors–which are their real colors.
Every year over 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins are produced in the US. The largest pumpkin pie ever weighed in at nearly 3,700 pounds. The world’s heaviest pumpkin weighed over 2,600 pounds.
Apple picking is a favorite fall activity. There are more than 7,500 varieties of apples in the world.
The Monarch Butterfly migration begins. They start out on their 3,000 mile trek to southwestern Mexico in the fall.
Leaves that fall provide insulation for seeds in the ground and help provide needed nutrients as they break down and decay.
The main ingredients in pumpkin spice are cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice.
Apple pie is America’s favorite kind of pie. Pumpkin pie comes in second.
Here are 20 recommended things to do in and around your home before winter sets in.
Look for and seal up any air leaks around the home, cracks in the driveway and patio.
Check your furnace: make sure it’s running correctly, change the filter.
Check fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors.
Remove any window air conditioners.
Switch the direction of ceiling fans to create an upward draft that redistributes the air from the ceiling.
Drain and remove garden hoses.
Empty any soil from flower pots and planters. Dirt left in clay pots will freeze and cause the pots to crack if left outside.
Clean bird feeders. If you have been feeding birds through the spring and summer, don’t stop now. During the fall and winter their natural food sources are diminished or gone. Keep feeders stocked.
Prune plants and perennials.
Plant spring bulbs for a pop of color when the snow finally melts away.
Clean out rain gutters.
Wash windows.
Drain/flush out the hot water heater. Doing this once a year helps clean out sediment and reduces noise, improves heating speeds and reduces energy costs.
If you have a fireplace or wood burning stove, get them expected.
Check the dryer vent.
Prepare your lawn mower for storage
Leave fallen leaves as mulch for your flower beds and yard. As they decompose they will help enrich the soil and offer over the winter protection for plants.
Check basement windows.
Check and stock up on your winter supplies: shovels, pet friendly and plant safe salt, ice scrapers, winter windshield fluid. Get your snow blower serviced.
General clean up. Clear space around fireplaces, heaters, furnaces, etc.
Getting your home ready for the market doesn’t have to break your bank. Potential buyers want to see the house. They may have a hard time getting past paint colors, strange smells, closets and shelves that are overflowing with stuff, and oddly arranged furniture. There are steps you can do that will freshen up your home and make potential home buyers interested in your property—all without maxing out your credit card.
You might not need to paint every room, but a fresh coat of paint in the right rooms could help make a good first impression with home buyers. Start with the living room as most likely that will be the first room they potential buyers will see and will give a good first impression. Bathrooms and the kitchen should be considered, too.
If you need to replace doors or cabinets or replace knobs on kitchen cupboards, check out second hand stores such as Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Deep clean inside and outside: power wash walkways, wash windows, wash/dust light fixtures, mop hardwood floors with a water based polyurethane wood floor restorer, rent a steam cleaner and deep clean carpets, wash scuff marks and grime off of walls, wash baseboards, weed flower beds, take care of any unpleasant odors, etc.
Remove clutter. Organize closets and cabinets. Purge and take unneeded items to the local thrift store.
Other tips that may seem small and insignificant, but can just be those nice little touches that help make your home more attractive to potential buyers.
Place potted flowers along the walkway or near the entryway
Put inexpensive cut flowers in a vase inside your home
Make sure the beds are neatly made
Store daily necessities discreetly
Hang matching hand towels in the bathroom
Put a full roll of toilet paper in the bathroom
New kitchen towels set out
Accessorize your bathroom with candles and fragrant soaps
Clear dressers of personal items
Wash and put away dishes
Keep toilet lids closed
Replace shower curtains
Check for burned out light bulbs
Rearrange furniture
Make sure trash cans are emptied
