The clocks are turned back and the chill in the air is pushing many of us inside to enjoy the great outdoors from the comfort of our windows. While November takes us deeper into Fall, we at Property Pros still have your yards at the forefront of our priorities and are planning for projects to come. With our spare moments, we've thought back on our season and are so grateful for the opportunities we've been given this year to maintain and beautify your outdoor spaces. As our season draws to a close, enjoy our last bits of news and advice for winterizing your yard.
Bulb Planting
Flower bulbs require good drainage, proper planting depth, and specific planting time in order to "chill" with the dropping temperatures. Meeting all these requirements can be tricky but worth the pay off. With proper sunlight and enough time to root in the cold winter ground, you'll have gorgeous tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, irises, and alliums bloom in Spring, year after year. It's not too late to get them planted.
Irrigation Shut Down
It's important to properly shut down your yard's irrigation and watering system before temperatures begin dipping below freezing at night. Not all irrigation systems are the same, but generally this requires shutting off water flow, draining the pipes, and sometimes insulating equipment. Improperly winterizing your system can cause costly damage.
The Last Mow
Your last mow of the season should leave your grass at about 3-3.5" tall. Cleaning up leaves is a necessity so your turf can access fresh air and sunlight over the winter season. Fallen leaves will retain moisture, causing potential mold and root rot that can spread throughout your entire yard.
Cut Back Ornamental Grasses
As soon as your ornamental grasses go brown, they need a Fall trim as well. This usually requires bundling, tying, and cutting down 2/3 or more of the height. As the cold season ends, the old growth can prevent needed access to sunlight, delaying new growth.
We thrive on extending a home’s entertainment space outdoors and turning the backyard into a place that family and friends can enjoy for many years to come. On this project, Jeff Mull, Executive Director/Head of Design & Sales, worked with our client to create a custom backyard and a fire-pit for cool fall evenings. We also had the unique opportunity to add a wheelchair ramp from the driveway to the pool deck, so all members of the family could utilize the space. Check out all the details and more amazing photos on our blog!
As our Equipment Manager, Gary helps keep Property Pros moving...Literally! Gary works a full-time job during the day, then comes to our shop to ensure that all of our vehicles, trailers, and equipment are running smoothly, so we can get to your job-sites without any issues. Gary is extremely proactive and has tasks completed before anyone asks for them to be done, and his help behind-the-scenes helps our company more than he knows. Please help us celebrate our Employee of the Month for November, Gary Springer.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins
These pumpkin swirl muffins are quick and easy to make and are sure to warm up anyone who's coming in from the cold!
INGREDIENTS

MUFFIN:
  • 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 (15 oz) can pure pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

CREAM CHEESE SWIRL:
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract


INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Place paper baking cups into muffin pan. Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, pumpkin spice, baking soda and salt until well combined. Set aside.
  3. In large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, sugar and brown sugar.
  4. Beat in eggs, vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Slowly whisk in the flour mixture, until there are no lumps. Fill muffin tins 3/4 full.
  5. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add in sugar, egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.
  6. Top each muffin with about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture and use a toothpick to swirl it into the batter. This will not look smooth, but it will bake up much prettier. (You can see exactly how I did this in the video above.)
  7. Bake muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  8. I liked these best at room temperature or even slightly chilled! Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Makes 18 Standard Muffins
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