DECORATING WITH PUMPKINS AND OTHER EXOTIC GOURDS FOR THE FALL
Fall officially arrived last month but it sure hasn’t felt like fall until now. Since September, we have been experiencing above average temperatures. Here we are in late October and finally starting to experience average, cool temperatures. It’s pumpkin season time!!! Everyone is decorating with pumpkins and gourds. With all the pumpkins and other gourds now in season, it is time to add some whimsy to your landscape, patio, or porch with fall festive colors.
So, what’s trending now? It is creating a PUMPKIN CONTAINER. It isn’t difficult and doing a pumpkin container will allow your creative juices to flow. I have some very simple and logical tips on creating that “one of a kind” pumpkin container garden. First, I suggest that you coat the exterior of the pumpkin or gourde with some type of sealant. This sealant will give your pumpkin longevity and could keep your pumpkin firm long into the winter. Second, you cut the top 1/3 and scoop out all the pulp and seeds from the inside (tip: save the seeds for roasting). Third, use a knife and cut a drainage hole in the bottom. I recommend putting a small amount of gravel or use a coffee filter over the drainage hole so that the soil does not block the hole from draining excess water. Fourth, you fill the pumpkin with soil up to about 2 inches from the top. Finally, you are now ready to be creative and plant some of your favorite fall plants. You can use any of the more unusual exotic gourds the same way as the traditional orange pumpkin but give you a different container look. Blue Hubbards and Full Moon White pumpkins make unique containers for the fall season.
Give this idea a try. You will have fun because family and friends will marvel at your idea.
Come and see us for all your fall decorating needs. We have a good selection of pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, straw bales, and more. Speaking of hay bales…how about the idea of using a hay bale as a container? Just cut out a section of the bale and add some soil. Plant it with some flowers such as pansies or violas and you have just created a very interesting planter.
What to do with plants when pumpkins have rotted away? Same with Straw idea?
Rep0t the plants
You could put a pot with plants inside the pumpkin and just take the whole pot out when pumpkin deteriorates.
Gladys,
Absolutely! Great idea. This way all you would have to do once the pumpkin rots away is to pull out the pot and continue the container gardening process. Thank you for sharing your thought. Doug