Winter is a great time to binge-watch our favorite streaming series, read books we haven’t had time to read, gather with friends for dinner and game night, but it’s also a great time for letting our health regimine go by the wayside.  This opens the door for illness, and no one has time for that.  Keep yourself feeling and doing your best with this guideline! 

You and Your Home 

• If you didn’t get exercise equipment or a gym membership over the holidays, it doesn’t give you an excuse not to exercise.  Walking is really an easy yet important way to burn off those holiday calories.  The cooler temps help you burn more because it takes more energy to stay warm, even while hitting the sidewalk.  A win-win exercise! 
• We may not be doing a lot of perspiring, but water is still essential to our good health.  Eight 8 ounce glasses a day will keep you hydrated, and your skin will thank you, too, as water helps battle the dry, itchy skin we get in Winter. 
• Keep surfaces in your home wiped down with all-purpose cleaner and warm water.  This is better than using disinfectants, as viruses and bacteria can become resistant to these ingredients, as noted with the FDA banning triclosan, a popular antibacterial additive in hand soaps. 
• If you do get sick–stay home and rest! The more you are out and about not only makes you feel worse and lengthens your recovery, the more you spread what you have! 

Your Mother Was Right! 

• Wash your hands! Using plain soap for forty-five seconds and a warm water rinse is all you need to fight germs.  
• Cover sneezes and coughs preferable with a disposable tissue, and if that isn’t available, cover your mouth and nose in the crook of your arm. 
• Avoid shaking hands, especially if someone is sick or has been around someone who is sick. 
• Take your vitamins! A daily multivitamin at mealtime is a great way to keep you healthy and getting the nutrients you need, especially vitamin D, which goes lacking somewhat in the colder months when we aren’t spending as much time in the sunshine. 
• Go to bed! Rest is so important to your overall health, and with the longer nighttime hours, it may be easier for you to get a full 7-8 hours a night.  Your immune system works better when you’re rested up. 
• Eat your vegetables–this is a no-brainer, anyway, but leafy greens, beans, and citrus are the best for the antioxidants you need to keep your immune system strong. 

Even in Winter, our fast-paced lives can keep us from being diligent about staying healthy when it’s more important than the warm months. The get-togethers in close quarters, die-hards that come to work with a cold, and viruses our kids bring home from school are all standards of germ-sharing this time of year.  Taking care of yourself and your family may take a little extra effort, but you’ll be healthier and happier in the long run. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

It’s easy to get carried away with spending during the most wonderful time of the year — AKA holiday shopping season — but that doesn’t mean you should!

Frugal, savvy spenders will want to check out this list of apps to help you compare prices and find the best deals for all the gifts on your list!

ShopSavvy

Check the price at over 70,000 retailers instantly, so you get the best deal every time! Works automatically when you visit product pages at any retailer. Prices and availability are checked automatically, in real time. Coupon codes and deals are shown as well, so you can save *even more* on top of already finding the cheapest price! Enter a postal code in Options to see prices at nearby “brick and mortar” stores, including if they have the item in stock right now.

Price.com

Let the Price.com app search through billions of products across thousands of stores in seconds. See all your new, used, local, rental, refurbished, and more shopping options in the product comparison engine. Use Price.com to search photos, scan barcodes, and compare prices while you browse your favorite online stores.

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

 Fresh holiday trees are beautiful, smell great and really add to the spirit of the season.  Following some proven safety tips might help you avoid a disaster and keep the Grinch away.

• Select a tree with fresh green needles that don’t fall off when touched or when the trunk is tapped on the ground.
• When trees are cut too early, they have a greater risk of drying out and can become more dangerous especially with electrical lights.
• Cut 1” to 2” off the base of the tree before placing it in the stand to facilitate it drawing water to the limbs and quills.
• Trees require water similar to cut flowers or they’ll dry out. Tree stands should hold at least one gallon of water and it should be checked every day.  A six foot tree could use up to a gallon of water every two days.
• Position the tree a minimum of three feet or further from heat source like fireplaces, space heaters, heat vents or candles.  Do not allow the tree to block an exit.
• Lights should be labeled from an independent testing laboratory and intended for indoor use.
• Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for how many strings of lights can be connected to each other.
• Turn off all tree lights when you go to bed or leave the home.
• If the tree becomes dry and begins shedding needles, it can be a fire hazard and should be removed from the home.  Even if the holidays are not over, it is not worth the risk to keep it in your home.
• After the gifts have been opened, don’t return the paper and boxes under the tree.
• Remove the tree as soon as possible after the holidays.
• Trees should never be burned in a fireplace.  The trees will burn very hot and quickly when they are dry and could spread outside of the fireplace which could cause an unfriendly fire.
• Check to see if there is a recycling program for holiday trees in your community.

The National Fire Protection Association reports that “one of every three home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical failures and a heat source too close to the tree causes roughly one in every six of the fires.”

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently. You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Halloween, the spookiest night of the year, once again will bring out the ghouls, ghosts, and witches in all their frightening glory. To celebrate, our market research company is shining a spotlight on the intriguing statistics that defined this haunting holiday.

From the top costume choices to the candy favorites that made trick-or-treating a sweet success, here are our favorite Halloween statistics for 2024. 

Top Halloween Statistics

• Up to 94% of Americans are planning to celebrate Halloween in 2024.

• Spending for Halloween 2024 is expected to reach $11.6 billion dollars. 

• Spirit Halloween will open 1,525 new locations this fall. 

• Up to 97% of Americans will be giving out Halloween candy. 

Overall Halloween Spending Habits

• Spending for Halloween 2024 is expected to reach $11.6 billion dollars.

        While this is still a massive figure, it’s a bit of a drop from last year’s spending which was $12.2 billion dollars. This year, shoppers are planning to spend $103.63 dollars on festive items, which is also down from last year’s $108.24 dollars. 

• Up to 94% of Americans are planning to celebrate Halloween in 2024

        With most everyone celebrating in some way, it’s a good thing a certain classic costume retailer is opening new locations across the country (you have to keep reading to find out)…

• 47% of shoppers are getting their Halloween shopping done early this year. 

        This is up 10% from five years ago, and signals consumers are wanting to avoid chaotic last-minute shopping trips. The biggest fans of Halloween spending are those aged 25 to 34, with 56% of them starting their shopping before October even hits. That’s dedication. 

• It’s believed that the global market size of Halloween costumes will expand at a compound annual growth rate of 0.5% from 2023 to 2030.

       And to the most fun part: what costumes will be popular this year? Based on some of the movie releases this year, popular costume themes may include Beetlejuice, Wicked, Deadpool, and Wolverine. 

• Spirit Halloween will open 1,525 new locations this fall. 

        A Halloween institution! It’s believed the new locations will be hiring a total of 50,000 seasonal employees to cover needs.

• A brave 72% of consumers would consider buying a haunted house
  Looks like they haven’t seen enough horror movies. Speaking of haunted houses, the annual revenue for haunted house tours and related festivities is over $300 million. 80% of these attractions are hosted by charity organizations.
  
• IT: Chapter One was one of the highest-grossing horror movies of all time at $123.4 million dollars
  Other eerie money-makers throughout the years include The Sixth Sense ($672 million), The Exorcist ($441 million), and The Nun ($365 million). Earnings aside, some of the scariest horror movies based on the viewer’s heart rate include Sinister (86 BPM), The Conjuring (86 BPM), and Paranormal Activity (82 BPM). 

Halloween Candy Statistics 

Let’s be real, the candy was always the best part about celebrating Halloween as a kid (and we think it still is). But when it comes to which house has the best candy, that’s a whole other level. 

Whether you enjoy chocolates or sugary candies, everyone has a staunch opinion on which sweet treat is number one. Check out these candy-related Halloween statistics we found…

• Up to 97% of Americans will be giving out Halloween candy. 

       That’s the spirit! And of that figure, two thirds say they give out two or three pieces of candy to trick-or-treaters. Common candy favorites include gummies, lollipops, and chocolate.

• In the past, Halloween candy spending has gone over $3 billion dollars
  Each year, the typical household will shell out $25 on Halloween candy – equating to over $2 billion dollars. But where’s the best spot to buy all this candy? Wal-Mart comes out as the most popular location to grab treats, with Target following closely behind.
  
• Preferred candy varies from state to state
  No shocker here, but Reese’s was number one for many states…but not all. In Arizona, Skittles comes out as number one. Michigan loves its Starbursts, and Montana goes crazy for Hot Tamales.
  
• Cotton candy was invented by a…dentist?!
  It’s true. A more niche Halloween treat, cotton candy was created by dentist William Morrison in 1897. However, the sweet treat went by the name of “Fairy Floss”–not cotton candy–in its early days.
  
• Tootsie Pops take between 364 to 411 licks to finish
  There was always at least one of these in our trick-or-treat bags. Believe it or not, Tootsie Roll Inc. actually has licking machines to test how many licks it takes to get to the soft center.

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Halloween Celebration Statistics

Whether you prefer a laid-back Halloween, handing out candy at home, or heading out to a costume party, there are many different ways to celebrate the day. 

• Up to 94% of Americans are planning to celebrate Halloween in 2024

      With most everyone celebrating in some way, it’s a good thing more Spirit Halloween locations are in the works!

• 47% of people wear costumes to celebrate the day
  We already gave you some ideas for costumes. Let’s not forget parties, though. Below are a few fun themes that everyone can enjoy:
  • Murder mystery
  • Nightmare Before Christmas
  • Pumpkin carving
  • Horror movie night

• Americans spend roughly $804 million on pumpkins
  Ready to hit the patch? The average price of a pumpkin comes out at around $5, which is up by 11% in 2022.
  
• Trick-or-treating goes way back to the 1600s
  Referred to as “guising” back in the day, children in Scotland and Ireland would dress in costume and ask neighbors for candy. Adaptations of this now-classic tradition began in the US in the early 1900s. 

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Final Thoughts

Do you feel Halloween-ready yet from these Halloween statistics?  A chance to get festive each year, this holiday provides those who celebrate with the opportunity to dress up and eat plenty of candy. 

While down slightly, spending stats for Halloween this year are high and will likely continue to be so for the years to come. While some Americans may be cutting costs by recycling costumers or reducing decorations, the spirit of this classic holiday is still very much alive! 

By: Lark Allen, https://www.driveresearch.com/market-research-company-blog/2022-fun-sized-halloween-statistics/

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

It won’t be long before the streets of your neighborhood are filled with children, and some parents, will be costumed and carrying bags and buckets for Halloween treats!  Since many homeowners don’t regularly use the front entrance to their home, they may not think about all the little feet that will be tramping up the path to your door.  Make sure everyone has a safe trip for their candy by following these tips before October 31! 

• Do your own walk-up to your front door, and examine everything, including the driveway and front steps.  Make sure there are no loose pieces or large cracks that can cause anyone to take a tumble.  Porch railings should be secure. 
• Yard decor should be fixed securely so the wind can’t blow it over, or curious little hands cannot pull it down. 
• Battery-operated LED tea lights are inexpensive and much safer to use in place of lighted candles.  Many options are available for LED’s, including a flickering light that is perfect for your jack o’ lantern. 

• Speaking of lights, make sure that not only is your porch light switched on, but that the path you’ve created is well-lit. 
• Decor that hangs from the trees is scary and fun, so make certain they are hanging at least ten feet from the walkway, making certain they don’t obstruct anyone’s view. 
• Take an afternoon close to Halloween to be sure any shrubbery, trees or edging isn’t in the way of where trick-or-treaters must walk.  Inspect for loose branches in nearby trees and remove them. 
• If you have room in the garage, consider parking the car there.  The folks that are coming and going would likely appreciate the extra room to pass others. 
• A constantly-ringing doorbell or persistent knocking can cause your pets some distress and a lot of barking.  Confine them to a room, or even better, to their crate.  Check out these other great tips about your pets and Halloween from the ASPCA. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

In most parts of the US this time of year, there is a lot of groaning by kids who are heading back to school, and some parents as well, because they dread the busyness of the school being in session.  Take the dread out by getting organized and staying organized so that it becomes a routine for you and your kids. 

• With sales and coupons abounding at every store this time of year, we usually end up with more school supplies than we need.  Have a dedicated storage spot for everything for easy access when it’s time to replenish.  Donating some of those extra supplies to the school or organization who help kids in need is a good thing, too. 
• If your school requires uniforms, go through old ones, and if they’re not worn or stained, take them to your school office so other students have a change of clothing in case of spills or accidents.  
• Getting ready for school begins the night before.  Set a bedtime, get a good routine going, and stick to it.  It can help reset your child’s body clock so that even when things get busy, they’ll be ready for sleep at their set time. 

• Even if they haven’t yet learned to tell time, get your child an alarm clock.  Set the alarm and help them be responsible for getting themselves up.   
• Have all their school clothes for the week hanging on a wreath hanger on the back of their bedroom or closet door or folded on their dresser.  This way, they can decide what to wear each day without staring at a closetful of clothes. 
• Let the kids pitch in with lunch prep.  Have their lunchboxes, storage containers, plastic bags and drink containers all in one easily-accessed spot in a kitchen cabinet. Good Housekeeping has a video with some great tips for packing up lunches. 
• Breakfast on the go can be so much more than a toaster pastry and juice box.  Mique from Thirty Handmade Days has compiled a list of links of 31 healthy make-ahead meals that kids will love! 
• Whether you have a mudroom or not, place some baskets or totes near the door for shoes, bookbags and sports bags.  It certainly helps with “I can’t find…” when it’s time to get them out the door. 

• After-school routines can vary, with extracurricular activities, sports, and lessons.  Keep a white board in a prominent place and have everyone’s schedule listed by days of the week.  Have the kids go over their schedule the night before so they’ll be prepared for their activities the next day. 
• Sometimes children come home from school and can’t wait till dinner and want to eat a full meal.  Have some snack bags of sliced fruit or veggies keeping cold in the fridge.  Add some fruit dip or ranch, and they’ll have a yummy snack that will tide them over until meal time. 

Getting in a routine doesn’t mean there won’t be mishaps or struggles or lost socks.  Go with the flow and remind the kids of the importance of putting things in their place or having things ready to go.  When they see you getting things ready beforehand, they’ll pick up your habits, get used to it, and it will soon be second nature.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Independence Day, better known in the US as the Fourth of July, will soon be in full swing with barbecues, backyard games, and fireworks. It became an official holiday in 1870, when Congress approved several national holidays. Here are some other little-known facts about our favorite Summertime holiday: 

America’s Independence 

• July 2 is the actual date that Congress voted to cut ties with England, but July 4 became the official date when all changes to the wording of the Declaration of Independence was finalized and accepted by all members. 

• Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence on a laptop.  A laptop desk, that is.  It is still on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. 
• The first Independence Day celebration was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 8, 1776 after the first public reading of the Declaration, with bands and ringing of bells. 
• To protect the lives of the signers of the Declaration, their names were withheld from public knowledge until independence from England was certain.  Otherwise, the men would’ve been hanged for treason! 
• John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration who later became President, died hours apart on July 4, 1826. 

Holiday Celebrations 

• In the years after 1776, July 4th was celebrated with booming cannons and artillery fire.  Once the use of these became impossible because of their age and condition, fireworks took their place. 
• The National Retail Federation tells us that in 2017, Americans spent an estimated $850 million on fireworks alone! 
• Legend has it that the first hot-dog-eating contest was held among friends at Nathan’s at Coney Island on July 4, 1916 to settle a dispute.  The contest is now a national affair and is broadcast live on ESPN! 

• Red, white and blue are out modern-day colors of choice for decorations, but George Washington had his troops adorn themselves with greenery in their hats to celebrate the independence anniversary, reports James Heintze in his book, The Fourth of July Encyclopedia. 
• Bristol, Rhode Island boasts the longest continuous Independence Day celebration, with the first observance in 1785.  The modern-day events include a parade, an orange crate derby, and a drum and bugle corps competition. 

Even if you’re traveling abroad, you’ll find Fourth of July decorations and fireworks available world-wide, thanks to Americans who settled in foreign countries in years past, and our many soldiers who are stationed at bases in other countries, according to International Business Insider.  It’s a celebration that is heard around the world! 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Living in a small home doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style or functionality. With careful planning and creative design solutions, you can make the most of every square foot and create a comfortable and inviting living space that meets your needs. Whether you’re downsizing to a smaller home or looking to maximize space in your current residence, here are some smart layout ideas to consider:

1. Embrace Open Concept Living:

2. Utilize Multi-Functional Furniture:

3. Optimize Vertical Space:

4. Create Built-In Storage Solutions:

5. Opt for Multi-Purpose Rooms:

6. Maximize Natural Light:

7. Optimize Traffic Flow:

8. Consider Scale and Proportion:

With smart layout ideas and creative design solutions, you can make the most of your small home and create a space that is functional, stylish, and inviting. Whether you’re maximizing storage, optimizing traffic flow, or embracing open concept living, there are endless possibilities for transforming your small home into a comfortable and beautiful sanctuary.

Ready to get started? Assess your space, prioritize your needs, and experiment with different layout ideas to find the perfect solution for your small home. With a little creativity and ingenuity, you can create a space that feels spacious, organized, and uniquely yours.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

By: Homekeepr

When we’re enjoying the warm weather, our pets usually are, too.  When we’re spending time outdoors with family and friends, we usually include our pets.  Keeping our furry family members safe should always be a priority, and these tips may be a refresher course for some, but it never hurts to make sure all our loved ones are kept out of harm’s way. 

In the Backyard 

• Fencing should be examined to make sure there are no gaps at the bottom, and that all materials are in place and secure.  You don’t want Fluffy taking a neighborhood excursion by himself. 
• The garden and landscaping bring us great satisfaction, and animals like to take a bite of growing things occasionally.  Check these lists for cats and dogs from ASPCA to make sure you keep your pets from chewing on them. 
• Keep any swimming pool chemicals and mechanical lawn tools sealed and out of your pets’ way.  Some of these products have a scent that is enticing to animals, and they wouldn’t hesitate to give them a try.   
• It may sound sensational, but if you have an animal that is a toy breed, or weighs five pounds or less, keep an eye and ear out for any predatory birds.  Owls, hawks, and eagles have been known to attack small pets, mistaking them for a wild meal. 
• Sometimes it’s necessary to leave your dog or cat outside while you’re gone for a while.  Make sure they have adequate shelter to keep them cool, and plenty of cool water to prevent heat stroke or dehydration. 
• Allowing your cat to roam in the yard is great for them, as they are natural hunters, and they find great pleasure in all the sights and sounds.  Keep an eye on them in case they see a bird they’d like to get to know better, or find a snake in the flower bed.  Protecting wildlife and your feline friend go hand-in-hand. 

Out and About 

• Does your dog go with you for exercise while you’re biking or jogging?  Some active pet owners take a water bowl with them, so they can offer a cool drink to their pet, and you can train them to drink directly from the bottle using an adaptor created especially for dogs. 
• Going fishing or water skiing?  Make sure you have a life jacket for them, as well as an overboard plan.  If you think Fido would enjoy jumping into the water, maybe you should leave them at home or at the kennel for their safety as well as your own. 
• vetSTREET offers some great tips for taking your dog to the beach.  Heat, waves, and hot sand can all play a role in just how much fun everyone will have–or not. 
• It’s vacation time, and you’d like to bring your pet with you, so call ahead for information on pet-friendly lodging, and where they can stay for events where pets aren’t welcome. Make sure you have a vehicle safety harness or seat belt for them or their carrier while you’re traveling. 

Summertime brings water fun, cookouts, and don’t forget the insects!  Keep your pets safe from biting insects, and be sure they get a flea and tick repellent treatment and heartworm prevention to avoid any diseases these insects can cause down the road. Pets need to be kept as safe as small children, so take preventive measures so you can have a fun and healthy Summer with the whole family.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Ah, the joy of stepping onto a lush green lawn, feeling the soft blades of grass beneath your feet. It’s the epitome of a picture-perfect garden! But achieving and maintaining a healthy lawn requires effort and dedication. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a newcomer to the world of lawns, we’ve got you covered with a comprehensive guide on the essential steps to a healthy lawn. So, grab your gardening gloves and let’s dive right in!

1. Soil Preparation:

Before you start dreaming of a lawn that would make your neighbors green with envy, it’s crucial to address the foundation – the soil. Testing your soil’s pH levels is the first step. Typically, a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5 is considered ideal for a healthy lawn. If necessary, you can adjust the pH by adding lime to raise it or sulfur to lower it. Aerating the soil by removing small plugs of soil will improve water and nutrient penetration, helping your grass roots to breathe.

2. Lawn Seeding or Sodding:

Now that you have prepared the soil, it’s time to choose your method of establishing your lawn – seeding or sodding. Seeding is cost-effective but takes longer to establish, while sodding offers instant gratification with a higher price tag. Whichever method you choose, make sure to select grass varieties suitable for your region and the amount of sunlight your lawn receives.

3. Regular Watering:

Watering your lawn may sound simple, but timing and consistency matter. Watering deeply and infrequently encourages the grass roots to grow deeper, making them more resilient to drought. Early morning is the best time to water, as it allows the grass to dry before nightfall, reducing the risk of diseases. Aim for about one inch of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation, to maintain a healthy lawn.

4. Mowing Techniques:

Mowing is not just about giving your lawn a neat, trimmed appearance. Proper mowing techniques play a significant role in maintaining your lawn’s health. Set your mower blades to the recommended height for your grass type and avoid cutting more than one-third of the grass blade length at a time. Regularly sharpen your mower blades to ensure clean cuts, as ragged edges can lead to pests and diseases.

5. Fertilizing and Weed Control:

To keep your lawn vibrant and healthy, providing it with essential nutrients is crucial. Applying a balanced fertilizer, tailored to your grass type and soil conditions, will give your lawn the boost it needs. Follow the recommended application rates and timing on the fertilizer package. Additionally, tackle those pesky weeds promptly. Regularly inspect your lawn for weeds and use a suitable herbicide or opt for natural weed control methods to keep them at bay.

Achieving a healthy lawn is a journey that requires time, effort, and a little bit of know-how. By following these essential steps – from soil preparation to regular maintenance – you’ll be well on your way to having the lawn of your dreams. Remember, a healthy lawn not only enhances the beauty of your outdoor space but also provides a relaxing environment for you and your loved ones to enjoy. So, roll up your sleeves, put on your gardening hat, and embark on this rewarding endeavor. Your healthy lawn awaits!

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

By and photo credit: blog.homekeepr.com