6 Things to Do with Those Leftover Halloween Pumpkins

It’s the season of pumpkins, and while those beautiful bright orange gourds are the ultimate symbol of fall decorating, especially on Halloween, you might be wondering what to do with your leftover pumpkins after the day has come and gone.

We give you some ideas to recycle and reuse your pumpkins instead of throwing them into the garbage bin!

1. Add Pumpkin to Your Soil

Pumpkin flesh is packed with essential vitamins that boost your soil’s nutritional content. Chop up your pumpkins and mix them into your soil. 

Add it to your garden bed, and if you are worried about the pumpkin pieces showing through, just layer on the gravel, mulch, or landscaping stones.

2. Get Cooking

Pumpkins are tasty and nutritious for us humans to enjoy! It’s also such a versatile meal. You can puree pumpkin, roast the seeds, bake pumpkin chunks in the oven, or make a warm, creamy pumpkin soup.

3. Make a Bird Feeder

Wild animals love to snack on pumpkin, too. Fill a hollowed-out pumpkin with birdseed (make sure to remove the seeds and candle first!) and set your bird feeder pumpkin outside where your feathered friends will easily find it.

4. Paint Your Pumpkins

Halloween isn’t the only time to show off your pumpkin creations. If you have leftover pumpkins that haven’t been carved, consider spray painting them white, gold, or silver. 

You can also add other embellishments, such as Fire Glass or small colorful garden stones. 

Voila! Now you have decorations for Thanksgiving.

5. Turn Pumpkins Into Planters

A hollowed-out pumpkin makes an awesome planter for another creative Thanksgiving decoration. 

Simply fill the pumpkin with soil, layer some landscaping gravel on top, and plant a few succulents inside. It’s a unique and beautiful display for an outdoor dining table!

6. Add it to Your Compost

If you have a compost bin, simply chop up your pumpkin and throw the pieces inside. As mentioned, pumpkin is chock full of nutrients that enhance soil health.