For many people, Halloween is major holiday, just like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Homeowners love broadcasting their love of creepy crawlies, spooky specters, and all things zombie. If you’re looking for a classy take on Halloween decorations, try these fun Halloween DIY projects.

DIY Halloween Decor

1. Want to transform your planters without damaging your plants? It’s as easy as one, two, three. One: buy a plastic cauldron slightly larger than your planter. Two: drill holes into the bottom for drainage. Three: put your planter inside and enjoy an easy, effective Halloween prop on your front porch.
2. No matter how freaky the faces, there’s something timeless about Halloween Jack o’ Lanterns. Line your sidewalk with funny faces, carve elegant monograms into pumpkins on the porch, or give this classic Halloween decoration a modern twist by painting pumpkins this year. Still not satisfied? Put your own twist on everyone’s favorite Halloween decor (try gluing black buttons in the shape of a cat or hanging plastic spiders from the stem).
3. Looking for an airy addition to your Halloween decor? Mold chicken wire in the shape of a ghostly gown or a simple hooded silhouette. Prop the figures around the yard. For an ethereal presence, simply spray paint the chicken wire white. For a more tangible ghost, cover the form in white cheesecloth and shred the edges.
4. Looking for a DIY project from found materials? Sketch a design onto an old tin can. Using a hammer and nail, make holes along the outline of your design. Paint the can black with leftover paint from your last project, and place a small LED or candle inside. Voila! Instant elegance.

Ready to DIY? Find ideas, tips, and supplies at Ace Hardware of Gray.

Painted Pumpkin Image from Flickr

There’s something inherently satisfying about planting vegetables in the fall, nurturing them through rain and frost, and harvesting fresh veggies to serve for holiday dinners. As summer heat finally fades, gardeners’ minds refocus on fall planting. What will you dish up this holiday season? Here are 8 fall vegetables to plant in Georgia gardens.

8 Fall Vegetables for Georgia

1. Asparagus: A perennial vegetable, asparagus makes an excellent addition to any fall garden. Space plants 12-18 inches apart to produce the best annual crop.
2. Broccoli: A cold-hardy vegetable, broccoli grows best in full sun. Though it can be grown in spring or fall, fall planting keeps the insect population down. Plant in fertile, well-drained soil 70-95 days before intended harvest.
3. Cabbage: Another excellent fall vegetable, cabbage can survive minor damage from frost and cold. For best results, plant 6-8 weeks before first frost. Mulch to keep moisture dispersal even, and water regularly.
4. Carrots: The perfect vegetable for almost any meal, carrots flourish in fall gardens. Carrots take 10-12 weeks to fully mature, so careful gardeners plant them early in the season. To avoid rot, pull carrots before winter frosts set in.
5. Cauliflower: Cauliflower plants require rich soil, frequent watering, and consistently cool temperatures. Grow cauliflower when the temperatures reach the mid 60’s.
6. Lettuce: Leafy greens grow well in Georgia’s mild fall weather. Sow seeds directly into the garden. Plant in September, but don’t fret if the first frost comes early. Lettuce can survive light frosts without sustaining damage.
7. Radishes: An easy-to-grow cool season vegetable, radishes thrive in full sunlight. Plant 4-6 weeks before last frost and thin radishes after the first week of growth.
8. Spinach: Another leafy green that thrives in cooler months, spinach grows best when planted in September. Use fresh spinach in salads, stir frys, dips, and baked into casseroles.

Ready to plant a fall veggie garden? Visit Ace of Gray for seeds, soil, and the tools needed to help vegetables grow.

Carrots Image from Flickr

Living in the South means three things: you can’t badmouth sweet tea, “y’all” is an essential part of your vocabulary, and the second it’s September, your life transforms into a tribute to all things SEC. Whether you’re a football fanatic or a casual fan, now is the time to show off your team pride. Survive (and thrive) this football season with our 5 college football essentials for fall.

5 Commandments of a Football-Friendly Home

1. Thou shalt display team pride. Whether it’s UGA flags in the yard, Clemson orange on the car, or Roll Tide burlees on the door, Ace of Gray has a fully stocked college football decor section to keep your home looking great for football season.
2. Thou shalt come prepared for a tailgate. You never know when your buddies will forget the cooler. Keep your Yeti stocked and ready to go, so you’re never without drinks, burgers, and hot dogs on game day. Keep your SEC logo Tervis collection packed and ready to roll for all your football season needs.
3. Thou shalt dress the part. We don’t just stock team t-shirts. Ace of Gray has college football onesies, dresses, sweaters, bags, and more. Come shopping before the big game or pick out one or two team spirit essentials so you’re ready to go, rain or shine.

4. Thou shalt be photo-ready. Grab your selfie sticks and hashtag your school pride. SEC football is about coming together and supporting your players. Besides, what Facebook friends wouldn’t want to see your Happy Everything football tray complete with team flags on toothpicks?

5. Thou shalt have fun! Football is about friends, food, and team spirit. Watch the game at home, attend a viewing party, or tailgate with half the state at the next big game. As long as you’re having a blast, there’s no wrong way to watch football.

It’s game time! Stock up on college football season essentials at Ace of Gray.

With the recent dip in temperatures, Georgia homeowners finally got their first taste of fall. Bring the fresh taste of the season from your garden to your table with these vegetables for a fall garden.

Fall Vegetable Garden

• Broccoli: If you’re planning to plant broccoli, better do it soon! Plant these veggies about 10 weeks before the first frost to guarantee a good yield.
• Cabbage: Plant cabbage seedlings 1-2 months before first frost. Grow in fertile soil and water well during the growing season.
• Carrots: Almost as versatile in the garden as they are in the kitchen, carrots are frost and cold tolerant. Plant carrots in soil with a pH of 6 to 6.5. Thin the seedlings after about 3 weeks to guarantee optimal crop growth.
• Lettuce: Plant lettuce before temperatures start dropping. If possible, plant lettuce seedlings in an area with afternoon shade and harvest after 45-60 days.
• Radish: A late fall vegetable, radishes thrive when sown 4 weeks before the first frost. Plant in fertile, well-drained soil, then leave radishes to mature on their own. They need little care during the growing season.
• Rutabaga: Fall enriches the flavor of this spring and autumn veggie. Plant when temperatures stay consistently around 60 degrees. Keep the soil moist for the best crop.
• Spinach: A classic for cooking or serving in fresh salads, an established spinach crop can withstand temperatures down to 20 degrees. Plant seeds in fertile soil 5 weeks before the first frost of the season. Harvest 45 days after planting, or tend your spinach plant for a late season yield.

Need seeds, tools, and fertilizer? Stop by the Ace of Gray garden center for everything you need to start a fall veggie garden.

Flickr

For many people, fall is the second spring. Gardeners cultivate rich new landscapes, homeowners sort and organize for a new season, and people everywhere dive into fresh fall home improvement projects. Unfortunately, it’s hard to commit to redoing the deck or building a fire pit from scratch. If you’ve gotten fall fever, update your home in just a few hours with simple paint DIYs.

5 DIY Projects for Paint Lovers

1. Paint a room. Simple, clean, effective. Redoing the color of a room is an excellent way to revitalize a boring home space. Paint the kids’ room a vibrant color, welcome visitors into your home with a warm hue in the foyer, or open up a cramped space with airy neutrals. Want to push the limits of your creativity? Try adding a complementary accent wall or using tape to paint patterns on drywall.
2. Dress up drawers. Painting furniture adds personality, style, and creativity to otherwise boring spaces. Not only does it make a fun project, it’s cheap, too! Buy an old dresser, table, or chair from the thrift store or use an antique piece collecting dust in your attic. Using leftover paint from your last project, paint your base color. If you want to add bright accents (like painting the spindles on a chair), get a collection of paint samples from Ace of Gray. In the end, you’ll have a fresh new look for your home.
3. Accessorize. There’s nothing you can’t paint if you put your mind to it. Think outside the box! Paint candles and candlesticks from the thrift store (just don’t set them on fire!), spice up vintage kitchen decor with a bright coat of yellow or blue, and help curtain rods disappear by painting rings and rods the same color as the walls.

Looking for paint for your next home improvement project? Ace of Gray stocks high quality brands like Valspar and Clark+Kensington. Ask our DIY experts which paint is right for your project.

Paint Image from FreeDigitalPhotos

The season of sodding and reseeding is almost upon us. Mowers work overtime in early fall, when grass sprouts like it’s spring again. But all that extra work could lead to faulty equipment if you’re not careful. Maintain your mower this fall with these 5 tips from Ace of Gray.

5 Tips for Keeping Your Mower in Top Shape

1. Learn your lawn mower. A good manual is a terrible thing to waste. Manufacturers want your mower to be a well-oiled machine (otherwise they get stuck with the bill). Before implementing a mower care strategy, make sure you’re hitting the manufacturer-approved maintenance checkpoints.
2. Deep clean. Leaving grass clippings on the lawn mower doesn’t just look messy, it makes your mower less effective over time. After each mow, wipe down your mower and blades with a soft cloth. Clean it thoroughly once a season, and it may last you 10-15 years.
3. Drain the gas. Storing your mower for winter? If your lawn mower won’t start in the spring, old gas is the likely culprit. Save yourself a major headache by draining old gas before storing your mower for the season.
4. Sharpen the blades. Dull mower blades tear grass instead of cutting it, which, needless to say, isn’t healthy for your lawn. Clean the undercarriage of grass and dirt, test the mower blades, and sharpen them every few weeks.
5. Visit the pros. A seasonal tune up is vital to extending the life of your lawn mower. Make an appointment at Ace of Gray this fall. We’ll perform a diagnostics test, replace the air filter and spark plug, and drain old gas from the mower. Come spring, all you’ll need to do is gas her up and watch her go.

Visit Ace of Gray for outdoor equipment maintenance and rentals.

Mower Image from Flickr

At Ace of Gray, we celebrate every season. It’s our mission to help the people of Gray transform their homes, score great deals, and have a blast with family, friends, and neighbors. Get your dose of summer, fall, and holiday entertainment with Ace of Gray’s seasonal events calendar.

Heart of Georgia Eggfest

The first of its kind, but not the last! We’re bringing this beloved tradition home with the first Eggfest in middle Georgia. Join us August 29th for hot-off-the-grill samples, tips on cooking better meals on your Big Green Egg, and exclusive sales on demo Eggs and Eggcessories. Arrive between 10-11am to get the full flavor experience!

Want to cook? Show off your culinary skills by claiming one of our Demo Eggs for the day. Our celebrity judges will hand out amazing prizes like a $500 Ace of Gray gift card and outdoor living gear to our top three chef teams!

Prefer to cook at home? Save big when you purchase a L or XL demo Egg. Watch our experienced chefs take it for a test run at the Eggfest, then pack it up and take it home.

Fall Festival

We love the crisp smell of shifting seasons, the merriment of carving pumpkins, and the culinary experience of spiced apple pies and other autumn favorites. We’re excited to announce this year’s Ace of Gray Fall Festival will take place on Saturday, October 24th. Join us for family friendly game, kids’ crafts, and gourds galore!

Ladies Night Out

When the men are away, the ladies will play! Ladies in Gray love Ladies Night Out, our semi-annual pamper night for the hardest workers in town. Enjoy delicious food and wine, meet celebrity guests, and get exclusive deals on holiday shopping. We’re closing down the store and opening the holiday sale floodgates. Don’t miss our Holiday 2015 Ladies Night Out on November 19th.

Mark your calendars! It’s going to be a busy year at Ace Hardware!

The Heart of Georgia EggFest is heating up, with sensational promotions on Big Green Eggs and your favorite Eggcessories. If you’ve been saving up for a Big Green Egg, here’s your chance to score a great deal! Buy a demo Egg and take grilling to a whole new level.

Eggfest Demo Eggs

So how does this demo egg thing work? Get great savings when you purchase a Large or X-Large demo egg before the Heart of Georgia Eggfest. We’ll hold onto your Big Green Egg during the event, where you’ll be able to watch one of our master grillers cook tasty samples on your new slow cooker. Pick up your gently used Big Green Egg after the event on August 29th. It’s as simple as that! All demo Eggs come with a nest, a plate setter, and a full warranty.

Get Your Demo Egg

Demo Eggs come fully assembled. Each comes complete with a dual function metal top, ceramic damper top, stainless draft door, temperature gauge, and spring assisted hinge. To purchase a Big Green Egg, please contact us before the event.

• Buyers must attend the Heart of Georgia Eggfest.
• Pick up your demo Egg between 4pm and 6pm on August 29th.
• Come prepared to load your Big Green Egg. You will need a vehicle with 33” height (we recommend a small SUV or larger vehicle), blankets, and straps. Our Eggfest staff with help you load the Egg into your vehicle.
• Essential Eggcessories are available for purchase at the Heart of Georgia Eggfest.
• Feel free to attend our Big Green Egg basics class at 11am.
• We have a limited number of demo Eggs available. Order yours before they’re gone!

Want to learn more about purchasing a demo Egg? Call Ace of Gray.

The grill is hot, the meat silently sizzling, and all is right with the world. But how did you get here? If you’re new to smokers like the Big Green Egg, it’s hard to know where to start. Choosing the right grilling equipment is essential to a tender, flavorful cut of meat. And when it comes to rich flavor, it all starts with the wood.

Guide to Grilling with Wood Chips

Choosing the right wood for your grill imbues the meat with mouth-watering flavor before you even think about adding a rub. What wood is right for your meat? Check out this handy wood chips grilling guide:

• Alder: A wood that gives a light, faintly sweet flavor. Use it to smoke fish, pork, and poultry.
• Applewood: There’s a reason this wood is the go-to for smoking bacon. Applewood chips give meat a sweet, somewhat ashy flavor and a rich brown color to poultry and pork.
• Cherry: Known for its fruity taste, cherry does well with pork, poultry, and beef. Avoid wood from chokecherry trees, which may produce a bitter flavor.
• Hickory: A robust flavor with a noticeably sweet undertone, hickory is popular for barbecuing pork, ham, and beef.
• Maple: A light, smoky flavor, maple adds a hint of sweetness to pork, poultry, cheese, and small game birds.
• Mesquite: One of the hottest burning woods, it gives a distinct, earthy flavor to fish, chicken, beef, and game.
• Oak: Another barbecue classic, oak lends heavy smoke flavors to read meat, heavy game, pork, and fish.
• Pecan: A lighter alternative to smoking with hickory chips.
• Walnut: Good with red meat and heavy game, walnut imparts a bold smoky flavor. It can become bitter if used alone, so grillmasters usually mix it with lighter woods like pear or apple.

Ready to heat up the grill? Check out the Heart of Georgia Eggfest for great deals on demo grills, Big Green Eggcessories, wood chips, and rubs.

Salmon on Grill Image from Flickr

Do you dream of a world where your dog can roam free? A world where your furry friend can run and play while you work in the garden? A world that doesn’t wind up with rows and rows of dug up flowerbeds?

Gardening with pets is a rewarding experience, but it takes a practiced hand to succeed. Transform the way you garden with these tips from Ace of Gray on how to garden with your dog.

Gardening with Dogs

1. Keep your pet safe. Before you consider protecting your flowerbeds, it’s time to consider the real danger of gardening with pets: that your dog will wind up sick. Dogs love to explore, so pet owners must take extra precautions before gardening with these curious creatures. When designing your landscape, pick plants that aren’t poisonous to animals. Instead of using chemical fertilizers, insecticides, and herbicides, protect your pooch by going organic. Cocoa mulch, just like chocolate, is also hazardous to dogs’ health.
2. Protect your plants. What’s the easiest way to stop your dog from digging in the backyard? Teach him not to! The younger you start, the better. If you’re stuck trying to teach an old dog new tricks, don’t be afraid to use a fence, a kennel, or a closed-in porch until the lesson sticks.
3. Keep your dog entertained. When do pets get into the most trouble? When they’re bored. Minimize boredom (and destroyed perennials) by keeping a few dog toys on hand. Play a round of frisbee between gardening tasks or simply let your pet play with his favorite chew toy.
4. Be prepared. The key to a successful day outdoors is always preparation. To prep the garden for puppy play, don’t forget to store sharp landscaping equipment, supply your pet with a bowl of fresh water, and be on the lookout for dog allergy flare ups (they get them, too!).

Ready to garden? Stop by Ace of Gray for everything you and your pup will need for your next landscaping project.

Dog Image Source