Pumpkin Decorations That Will Last The Fall Season! Homemade Topiaries & Real Pumpkins That Last!

Pumpkin Topiaries that you can make yourself!

Real Pumpkins Prepped to last the season!

I love the Holidays, and I love to decorate for Fall. I especially love pumpkins.

But Fall decor can be expensive, especially topiaries, which can be hundreds of dollars!

I also love to use the real heirloom pumpkins on my front step, but they cost so much money and can go bad in less than a month. I always ask myself, is it worth it?

So how can you save money on your pumpkin topiaries and have real pumpkins on your front porch all season long?

I have the solution:

1. Make your own pumpkin topiaries! You can find everything you need at your local craft store!

2. Prep your real pumpkins so will last the Fall season. Mine lasted all through October and November last year when I prepped them as described below!

So let's get started!

1. Homemade Pumpkin Topiaries

Note: The topiaries are made with fake pumpkins, so they will last for years. However, you could prep your pumpkins as directed below for real pumpkin topiaries. Since you cut holes in the pumpkins, I am not sure how long the real pumpkin topiaries would last.

I have always loved Pumpkin Topiaries, but when I looked at different sites to buy them, they were hundreds of dollars for just one topiary! I decided that I would have to make them to save money, and I recruited my husband to help me. 😍

Here is what I did, but I am sure there are many different ways you could do the same thing.

Directions for Making Pumpkin Topiaries

Items Needed:

-Faux Pumpkins, 6 or so usually styrofoam in the center

-2 Ceramic Pots

-Black outdoor spray paint

-2 grapevine wreaths

-2 flexible garlands to fill in holes between pumpkins

-Sand or Gravel to fill two pots to fill about 2/3 of the pot

-2 Styrofoam disks cut to the size of the bottom of the pot

-2 wooden dowels, about 1/2-inch thick, and about 3 feet or so

-Saw for cutting dowels

-drill with a 1/2-inch drill bit

1. I went to my local hobby store and stacked the faux pumpkins until I found a combination that I liked together. I wanted to make two topiaries, so I used 3 big pumpkins for one, and four pumpkins for the other one; however, I made sure that once stacked, they would be approximately the same height.

2. I looked for some cheap pots that I could use for the base. I found 2 ceramic pots that were the right size. I tried them out at the store with the pumpkins before I bought them. I decided I would spray paint the pots black.

3. I bought 2 grapevine wreaths to help stabilize the topiary at the base; on top of the pot.

4. I bought 2 leaf garlands that I would use to fill in the gaps.

5. I spray painted the pots black and let dry

6. Then I put the 2 styrofoam disks at the bottom of the pots

7. I filled the pots with gravel about two-thirds from the bottom.

Put gravel over the styrofoam circle

8. I put the grapevine wreath on top of the pot.

Grapevine wreath sits on top of the pot.

9. Carey drilled a hole through the center of all the pumpkins, except for the very top pumpkin.

10. For the top pumpkin, Carey drilled a hole in the center, starting from the bottom, around 2 inches from the top, so that he wouldn't poke through the stem at the top.

Don't push the dowel all the way through the top pumpkin

11. He then pushed the dowel into the pot with the styrofoam and gravel

12. Then he slowly pushed the pumpkins through the dowel, ending with the top 🎃.

13. I arranged the garland to fill in the gaps.

14. Then I moved the dowel around to get the perfect fit.

Finish with the Fall- leaf garland

They look great inside by your fireplace or outside on your porch.

Be sure that the topiaries are covered to protect them from the weather.

2. Prepping Real Pumpkins to last the Fall Season

I love using real pumpkins, but they never last very long, so I usually buy them in November. However, this year I found a way to make them last longer. I used pumpkins on my front steps, and on my back deck and yard.

Items Needed:

• Pumpkins

• Sharp knife

• bleach

• Clear or glossy outdoor spray paint like Rust-Oleum

Directions:

1. Buy Heirloom pumpkins of different shapes, colors, and sizes. Trim the stems.

2. Clean your pumpkins with soapy water, then disinfect with a bleach/water mixture- (one part bleach, 3 parts water) You can put the mixture in a spray bottle. Spray and wipe down. The bleach kills bacteria preventing the pumpkins from rotting.

3. Let pumpkins dry completely

4. Spray the pumpkins with an outdoor clear glossy spray paint like Rust-Oleum Clear Coat. I used the shiny finish because I like the look. For a more natural look, use the satin finish.

5. Let them dry for at least 30 minutes. You are good to go!

*See the picture at the top of the page for front door/step ideas.

I will use these cool pumpkins in my backyard. 🎃

Have fun with pumpkins and Happy Fall Y'all! 🎃