Reuse or Compost Your Pumpkins

Reuse your Pumpkins

Now the spooky season is over, don’t just throw your pumpkins away!

Why not recycle your pumpkin shell to make your own bird feeder or compost the remains?

To make your very own temporary pumpkin bird feeder, use the tough outer shell of your pumpkin as the starting base to hang in your garden. Cut your pumpkin in half and pierce a hole in the base of the pumpkin. Thread through a piece of string and tie it up high in a tree, fill your new feeder with bird seed and wait for the feast to begin. Be careful to keep an eye on your new bird feeder and collect it in for composting when it begins to rot.

It is important to make sure that when you are placing out your pumpkin remains they are nice and high up to prevent animals such as hedgehogs from gaining access to them. Pumpkins can act as a laxative for young hedgehogs and can prevent them from gaining important weight ready for hibernation through the winter. By placing your pumpkin bird feeder nice and high it will ensure that any young hedgehog travelling through your garden won’t be tempted by any leftovers!

You can also compost your pumpkin remains. Pumpkins are made up of 90% water therefore they are great composting material, adding a great source of nitrogen and moisture to add to your composting pile.