Are you left with slowly sinking pumpkins and rotting gourds that have served their decorative purpose for the fall holidays? Don’t toss them into the trash. Instead, consider giving them a second life in your garden. Not only is this an eco-friendly option (and you should be eco-friendly), but it also adds nutrients back into your soil. Free fertilizer—who doesn’t like that?

We’ll share four ways to use that formerly scary-faced carved pumpkin that now looks like a toothless and innocent orange head that has lost his way.

Compost Your Pumpkins and Gourds

The first and easiest option for repurposing old pumpkins and gourds by composting them. Of course you’ll remove any candles, glitter, or synthetic paints first, as these don’t belong in a compost pile. Chop the pumpkins into smaller pieces to speed up the squashes imminent decomposition. The flesh, seeds and skins all contribute rich organic matter that boosts soil fertility. Even gourds with tougher skins can be shredded or broken into smaller chunks for faster breakdown.

Feed Wildlife

Composting not an option for some reason? Leave pumpkins and gourds outside for wildlife. Placing them away from the street and your deck or patio is the safest place for them (and for you, too). Deer, rabbits, squirrels, and birds love that nutrient-rich flesh. Slice them open or have fun smashing them on the ground to make it easier for animals to access the inside. Your local fauna are fed and you easily dispose of your seasonal decorations. It’s a win-win.

Call a Local Farmer

Why should wildlife get all the yummy leftovers? Perhaps a local farm with pigs, chickens and other farm life could benefit from some delectable squashes.

Keep the Seeds

Don’t forget the seeds! Scoop them out, clean them of the squash “guts” and dry them for next year’s garden. If you happen to have an heirloom variety of pumpkin or gourd, you’ll be able to grow carbon copies (aka true to type) from those saved seeds. Plant them in late spring, and you’ll enjoy fresh pumpkins, gourds, and squash without having to buy new seeds.

Using Pumpkins and Gourds in the Garden

As I was searching the internet for some other uses of aging decorative squash, I can across a “why didn’t I think of that?” idea. Apparently some gardeners cut pumpkins into chunks and bury them directly in garden beds. As they decompose in the ground, they release nutrients and organic matter directly into the soil, enriching it for next season’s crops. This method works particularly well in vegetable gardens and can even attract beneficial insects. I would add that burying those chunks in a portion of your vegetable garden that you know will not be planted first thing would be best. This gives the chunks more time to break down in the soil before summer crops go in.

Now those are some great ideas for what to do with your old squash décor. Point is, keep them out of your local landfill. They can be such a greater benefit to your garden and nature.