Halloween Garden Decor: Pumpkins, Corn Husks and Flowers

From trick-or-treating to apple-picking to pumpkin spice everything, fall is a favorite time of year for many Americans.  And, of course, the peak of autumn celebrations is Halloween. Though some have linked its ancient origins to the supernatural and spooky, today Halloween is a fun holiday that brings communities and neighborhoods together with costumes, candy and garden decorations.

In the weeks leading up to the night when kids climb our front porch steps to trick-or-treat, we start planning what the year’s Halloween garden decor will include. Many times, we need to look no farther than our own gardens. 

Halloween Garden Decor 101

Corn Husks

Remember all those delicious ears of corn we enjoyed from the summer harvest? Once those husks have finished producing ears, save a few to dry out for some festive fall décor. 

Simply pull the stalks up by the roots and let them dry out. 

If it is too deeply rooted to pull up by hand, try chopping it down with an axe or clipping it with a sharp pair of pruners. 

When cutting the stalk, be sure to get it as close to the ground as possible. 

Set the husks aside, keeping them upright. They can lean against a fence or a garden shed for a few days while they dry out. Be sure not to leave them lying of the ground for long because they will start to decompose. 

After several days, the corn husks will be dried out to a fall-colored hue of brown. Try tying a few husks together with ribbon or twine to accentuate the front door or attach them to the mail box post to greet trick-or-treaters.

Mentioning corn and fun, have you tried playing cornboard before?

Pumpkins

Of course, no Halloween decoration is complete without a few pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns.

Pumpkins are fun and easy to grow and make great additions to the summer gardens. But even if they were not included in spring planting, they are available for purchase at most grocery stores and nurseries during the fall.

For variety, try mixing up pumpkin colors. Lumina pumpkins are bright white on the outside and orange of the inside. These white pumpkins are elegant accents to traditional fall colors but also look great when they are carved into jack-o-lanterns.  

Jack-a-littles are tiny orange pumpkins that are perfect for indoor table décor or sitting on porch steps. 

Jarrahdale pumpkins are quite unique, with a warm green hue that compliments other orange, red, and brown Halloween garden decor nicely. Mixing these unique varieties of pumpkins is a great way to dress up the house for the autumn holidays.

Fall Flowers

A plethora of gorgeous fall blooms add elegance to fun fall decorations. Mums, chrysanthemums, aster, dianthus, and violas can all produce blooms in lovely warm hues of orange, red, and purple. 

Try pairing some of these flowers with purple fountain grass, croton, or flowering kale to create an elegant statement piece for the front porch. With proper sunlight and water, most will continue blooming until the first frost.

Conclusion – Halloween Garden Decor

Our gardens are a source of joy and sustenance, providing food for our tables, but a garden’s beauty can be enjoyed through the autumn. By incorporating these garden beauties into our Halloween garden decorations, we can add fun and elegance to our homes while we enjoy the fall holidays.