{"id":13737,"date":"2022-11-01T03:50:12","date_gmt":"2022-11-01T03:50:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=13737"},"modified":"2026-10-30T15:50:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T15:50:13","slug":"recycle-your-halloween-pumpkins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/recycle-your-halloween-pumpkins\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Ways to Recycle Your Halloween Pumpkins"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes has-medium-font-size\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>\u2022 <strong>Feed your soil:<\/strong> Old pumpkins, even rotting ones, break down into nutrients for garden beds once you remove candles and wax, but painted pumpkins should stay out of compost and soil.<br>\u2022 <strong>Save the seeds:<\/strong> Pumpkin seeds can be roasted for a snack or dried and stored for planting next spring.<br>\u2022 <strong>Reuse before you toss:<\/strong> Uncarved, unpainted pumpkins can last 1 to 6 months as Thanksgiving decor or become bird feeders and planters.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Halloween has come and gone, but the leftover pumpkins remain. Instead of tossing them, recycle your Halloween pumpkins: Turn them into fresh decor, roast the seeds, bake with the flesh, feed the birds, or compost them for next year&#8217;s garden.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether yours is still whole, carved, painted, or starting to rot, here are 9 ways to keep it out of the landfill.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Need a hand with the rest of your fall cleanup? Local Lawn Love <a href=\"https:\/\/signup-web.lawnlove.com\/cart\/contact-info?intent=leafRemoval\">leaf removal pros<\/a> can help.<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-76d05540-7787-4b72-9434-4f6194faf212\" data-linktodivider=\"false\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" data-enablesmoothscroll=\"false\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\" data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\" style=\"text-align: left; \"> \t\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\" style=\"\">In this article:<\/div> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-1-column\"> \t\t\t\t<ul style=\"\"><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/recycle-your-halloween-pumpkins\/#0-9-ways-to-recycle-halloween-pumpkins\" style=\"\">9 ways to recycle Halloween pumpkins<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/recycle-your-halloween-pumpkins\/#10-faqs\" style=\"\">FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>   <h2 id=\"0-9-ways-to-recycle-halloween-pumpkins\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"9-ways-to-recycle-halloween-pumpkins\">9 ways to recycle Halloween pumpkins<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The best method depends on your pumpkin&#8217;s condition:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Uncarved and unpainted:<\/strong> Every method below works, from Thanksgiving decor and puree to zoo donations.<\/li>    <li><strong>Carved:<\/strong> Turn it into a bird feeder, planter, or compost while it&#8217;s still firm.<\/li>    <li><strong>Painted:<\/strong> Keep it as decor, since paint makes it unsafe for compost, garden soil, and animals.<\/li>    <li><strong>Soft or rotting:<\/strong> Smash it, bury it, or compost it.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 id=\"1-1-repurpose-for-thanksgiving-decorations\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"1-repurpose-for-thanksgiving-decorations\">1. Repurpose for Thanksgiving decorations<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Uncarved pumpkins can stay right where they are as Thanksgiving decorations, since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newswise.com\/articles\/horticulture-expert-shares-best-ways-to-preserve-pumpkins-throughout-the-season\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">whole pumpkins<\/a> can last 1 to 6 months when protected from harsh weather. Bring them indoors before a hard frost, which shortens their shelf life. <strong>To repurpose your Halloween pumpkins for Thanksgiving:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Rearrange them:<\/strong> Give them a new grouping on your porch, steps, or mantel.<\/li>    <li><strong>Build a centerpiece:<\/strong> Pair them with fall foliage and candles on your dining table.<\/li>    <li><strong>Refresh the look:<\/strong> Get crafty with paint or sequins, but painted pumpkins can&#8217;t be eaten, composted, or donated afterward.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 id=\"2-2-save-the-seeds-for-planting\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"2-save-the-seeds-for-planting\">2. Save the seeds for planting<\/span><\/h3>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"647\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Pumpkin-Seeds.jpg\" alt=\"Pumpkin seeds on paper\" class=\"wp-image-13746\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Pumpkin-Seeds.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Pumpkin-Seeds-300x243.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Pumpkin-Seeds-768x621.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Pumpkin-Seeds-610x493.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Grow your own pumpkins by saving the seeds and planting them. Photo Credit: Janae Soules \/ Lawn Love<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Saving the seeds when you gut your pumpkin lets you grow your own pumpkins for next year&#8217;s Halloween. Many carving pumpkins are hybrids, so plants grown from <a href=\"https:\/\/beaufort.ces.ncsu.edu\/news\/saving-the-future-why-seed-saving-belongs-in-every-garden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">saved seeds<\/a> may look different from the parent pumpkin. <strong>To prepare your pumpkin seeds for planting:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Rinse the seeds and remove all the pulp:<\/strong> Leftover pulp slows drying and can cause the seeds to rot.<\/li>    <li><strong>Spread them out to dry:<\/strong> Lay the seeds in a single layer on a kitchen towel or a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Skip paper towels, since sticky seeds cling to them.<\/li>    <li><strong>Dry them for three to four weeks:<\/strong> Keep the seeds in a cool, dry place, flip them often for the first few days, and toss any that grow mold.<\/li>    <li><strong>Store them in a brown bag or envelope:<\/strong> Keep them there until planting time.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 id=\"3-3-save-the-seeds-for-eating\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"3-save-the-seeds-for-eating\">3. Save the seeds for eating<\/span><\/h3>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pumpkin-seeds-on-salad.jpg\" alt=\"Pumpkin seeds atop a salad\" class=\"wp-image-13738\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pumpkin-seeds-on-salad.jpg 799w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pumpkin-seeds-on-salad-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pumpkin-seeds-on-salad-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pumpkin-seeds-on-salad-610x407.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pumpkin seeds can be used as a salad topper. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/30478819@N08\/49583107777\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Marco Verch Professional Photographer<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pumpkin seeds make a crunchy snack, salad topper, or muffin mix-in. Prep them as you would for planting, rinsing off all the pulp, but just pat them dry with a kitchen towel instead of drying them for weeks.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ways to eat your pumpkin seeds:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Roasted:<\/strong> Toss the seeds in vegetable, olive, or coconut oil, then season them with salt, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, or chili powder. Spread them in a single layer on a lightly greased baking sheet. Roast them in a 350-degree oven for about 15 minutes, flipping every few minutes, until they smell nutty.<\/li>    <li><strong>As a salad topper:<\/strong> Roast them first, either alone or with another topping you like, such as sunflower seeds.<\/li>    <li><strong>In muffins:<\/strong> Skip the roasting step and add the seeds whole, or grind them in a food processor.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 id=\"4-4-pumpkin-puree\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"4-pumpkin-puree\">4. Pumpkin puree<\/span><\/h3>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pumpkin-puree.jpg\" alt=\"Pumpkin puree with pomegranate seeds\" class=\"wp-image-13751\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pumpkin-puree.jpg 799w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pumpkin-puree-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pumpkin-puree-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pumpkin-puree-610x407.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pie pumpkins make the best puree since they are made for baking. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/30478819@N08\/48915903458\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Marco Verch Professional Photographer<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Small, uncarved <a href=\"https:\/\/henderson.ces.ncsu.edu\/news\/pumpkins-not-just-for-decoration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pie pumpkins<\/a> make the best puree, since they&#8217;re bred for baking rather than carving. An uncarved carving pumpkin is edible too, but its watery, stringy flesh suits soup or chili better than pie. Skip carved jack-o&#8217;-lanterns and any pumpkin that has softened or grown mold outdoors.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>To make pumpkin puree:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Halve it:<\/strong> Slice the pumpkin in half from top to bottom.<\/li>    <li><strong>Scoop it out:<\/strong> Remove the seeds and pulp.<\/li>    <li><strong>Roast it:<\/strong> Cover each half with foil and bake it foil side up in a 350-degree oven for about one hour, or until tender.<\/li>    <li><strong>Blend it:<\/strong> Scoop the flesh into a blender, puree it, and strain out any stringy pieces.<\/li>    <li><strong>Freeze the extras:<\/strong> Store the puree in freezer-safe bags until you&#8217;re ready to use it.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 id=\"5-5-bake-some-pumpkin-treats\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"5-bake-some-pumpkin-treats\">5. Bake some pumpkin treats<\/span><\/h3>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Pumpkin-pie-Baked.jpg\" alt=\"Baked pumpkin pie in pan\" class=\"wp-image-13742\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Pumpkin-pie-Baked.jpg 799w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Pumpkin-pie-Baked-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Pumpkin-pie-Baked-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Pumpkin-pie-Baked-610x407.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pumpkins are great for pies, bread, cookies, pancakes, soups and more. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cindyshebley\/39222531882\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cindy Shebley<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Homemade pumpkin puree works in recipes from breakfast to dessert. <strong>Ideas for using pumpkin puree:<\/strong><\/p>    <figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Meal<\/th><th>Pumpkin puree ideas<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Breakfast<\/td><td>Oatmeal, waffles, pancakes, and muffins<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Baked goods and desserts<\/td><td>Bread, chocolate chip cookies, and pumpkin pies<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Savory dishes<\/td><td>Soup, chili, and ravioli<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Spreads and drinks<\/td><td>Pumpkin butter and pumpkin spice lattes<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>    <h3 id=\"6-6-construct-a-bird-feeder\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"6-construct-a-bird-feeder\">6. Construct a bird feeder<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A gutted pumpkin shell makes an easy bird feeder for your yard. With an uncarved pumpkin, scoop out the seeds and pulp, then halve it for a bowl shape or cut a hole in its side so birds have room to feed.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A carved pumpkin also works if it isn&#8217;t rotting and has no charred marks or candle wax. Cut away the carved section to leave just a bowl at the bottom.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>To construct a bird feeder with a pumpkin:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Pick a spot:<\/strong> Decide where you want to place your pumpkin bird feeder.<\/li>    <li><strong>Hang it, if you like:<\/strong> Poke four holes in the sides, then run small sticks through them or tie string or twine directly to the pumpkin.<\/li>    <li><strong>Or set it down:<\/strong> Place it on your deck, in your garden, or anywhere in your yard. You can still add sticks as a perch.<\/li>    <li><strong>Fill it with birdseed:<\/strong> Then sit back and enjoy the benefits of <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/benefits-attracting-birds-your-yard\/\">attracting birds<\/a> to your yard.<\/li>    <li><strong>Bring it in at night:<\/strong> This keeps raccoons and other critters from feasting on it.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 id=\"7-7-make-a-pumpkin-planter\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"7-make-a-pumpkin-planter\">7. Make a pumpkin planter<\/span><\/h3>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"582\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pumpkin-planter.jpg\" alt=\"Different plants grow in a pumpkin\" class=\"wp-image-13743\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pumpkin-planter.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pumpkin-planter-300x218.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pumpkin-planter-768x559.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pumpkin-planter-610x444.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Use a pumpkin to make a colorful seasonal planter. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/75885098@N05\/37313291632\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bennilover<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nd\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-ND 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A pumpkin that&#8217;s still firm makes a seasonal planter for your porch. For a carved one, cut away the face to leave a bowl that holds soil. <strong>To make a pumpkin planter:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Open it up:<\/strong> Cut off the top and scoop out the seeds and pulp.<\/li>    <li><strong>Add drainage:<\/strong> Poke a few small holes in the bottom so water can escape.<\/li>    <li><strong>Fill and plant:<\/strong> Add potting soil and your flowers of choice, such as mums or pansies.<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the pumpkin starts to soften, plant the whole thing, flowers and all, in a garden bed. The pumpkin breaks down around the roots.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cKitchen waste can be applied in the basins of fruit trees after removing the meat items, tins, and plastic. It will decompose in basins around the trees,\u201d says Girish Kumar Panicker, Ph.D., of Alcorn State University&#8217;s College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences in Lorman, Mississippi.<\/p>    <h3 id=\"8-8-check-with-your-local-zoo-or-farm\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"8-check-with-your-local-zoo-or-farm\">8. Check with your local zoo or farm<\/span><\/h3>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Some zoos and farms accept uncarved, unpainted pumpkins as treats for their animals. Call ahead before loading up your car to make sure they&#8217;re accepting pumpkin donations.<\/li>    <li>If you or a neighbor keep backyard chickens, they&#8217;ll happily peck at chunks of fresh, unpainted pumpkin.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 id=\"9-9-smash-them-for-fun-and-compost\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"9-smash-them-for-fun-and-compost\">9. Smash them for fun and compost<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smashing jack-o&#8217;-lanterns is a fun way to end Halloween, and it feeds your soil, too. As pumpkins break down, their water and nutrients act as a natural fertilizer.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recycling them this way also keeps them out of landfills, where <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/land-research\/quantifying-methane-emissions-landfilled-food-waste\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">food waste<\/a> accounts for an estimated 58 percent of the methane landfills release into the air.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ways to put smashed pumpkins to work:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Around the yard:<\/strong> Smash pumpkins on bare soil or under shrubs, not on your lawn, where heavy piles can smother the grass.<\/li>    <li><strong>In a garden bed:<\/strong> Bury the pieces in a garden box where you want pumpkins to grow next spring.<\/li>    <li><strong>In the compost:<\/strong> Add smashed pieces rather than whole pumpkins to your <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/green-ideas-composting-101\/\">composting bin<\/a>, and scoop out the seeds first unless you want pumpkin sprouts.<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Note:<\/strong> Remove candles and wax before composting a jack-o&#8217;-lantern.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/beginners-guide-scrap-gardening\/\">A Beginner\u2019s Guide to Scrap Gardening<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/what-can-cannot-be-composted\/\">What Can and Cannot Be Composted?<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/recycled-gardening-ideas\/\">17 Recycled Gardening Ideas<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 id=\"10-faqs\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"faqs\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>    <div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-0\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can you put pumpkins in the garbage disposal?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No, because stringy, fibrous pumpkin pulp can wrap around a garbage disposal&#8217;s grinding parts or thicken and clog your drain. Scrape the scraps into your compost bin instead, where the same pulp that jams pipes breaks down into nutrients for your garden soil.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can you recycle a pumpkin treated with WD-40?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You can reuse a pumpkin treated with WD-40, hairspray, or clear sealant only as decor, since those products don&#8217;t belong in your soil or an animal&#8217;s stomach. Keep treated pumpkins out of compost piles, garden beds, bird feeders, and donation bins, and bag them for the trash once they start to soften.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-2\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can pumpkins go in the yard waste bin?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Many cities accept plain pumpkins in curbside yard waste or food scrap bins, but rules vary, so check your local waste program&#8217;s website before tossing one in. Some communities also host pumpkin drop-off events after Halloween that send pumpkins to large-scale compost sites.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-3\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Should you leave pumpkins out for deer?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">It&#8217;s best not to, because whole pumpkins left in the yard can draw deer, raccoons, squirrels, and rodents that stick around to nibble on shrubs and garden plants. A sudden pumpkin feast can also upset wild animals&#8217; digestion, so break smashed pumpkins into small pieces that decompose quickly.<br><br><strong>Read more:<\/strong><br><br><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-keep-raccoons-out-of-yard\/\">How to Keep Raccoons Out of Your Yard<\/a><\/p> <\/div> <\/div>    <h2 id=\"11-dont-throw-away-your-halloween-pumpkins\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span id=\"dont-throw-away-your-halloween-pumpkins\">Don&#8217;t throw away your Halloween pumpkins<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pumpkins aren&#8217;t the only fall chore waiting in your yard. If leaves are piling up, let <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/leaf-removal\">local Lawn Love pro<\/a> take care of them for you so you can enjoy the season.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/fall-lawn-care-tips\/\">Fall Lawn Care Tips<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/fall-yard-cleanup-benefits\/\">7 Benefits of a Fall Yard Cleanup<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Main Image: Halloween pumpkins. Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rawpixel.com\/image\/3302300\/free-photo-image-cc0-creative-commons\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rawpixel<\/a> \/ rawpixel<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wondering what to do with pumpkins after Halloween? Compost them, roast the seeds, make puree, or turn them into bird feeders and planters with these 9 ideas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":13753,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[297],"tags":[132],"class_list":["post-13737","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gardening","tag-gardening"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/recycle-pumpkin.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Janae Soules","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/janae-soules\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13737","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13737"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13737\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49888,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13737\/revisions\/49888"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13753"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13737"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13737"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}