A hay bale or two can turn a handful of pumpkins into a real fall display. Bales add height, give pumpkins a sturdy place to sit, and make a porch feel like a farm stand. They are also simple to work with, as long as you think a little about placement, moisture and safety. Here is how to use them well.
Why hay bales work so well
Most porch displays have the same problem: everything sits at one low level. A bale lifts part of the display up toward eye level, so the pumpkins on top are seen first and the ones around the base fill in below. The warm color and rough texture also set off orange, white and blue-gray pumpkins nicely. And a bale is a solid shelf for heavier pumpkins that would look lost on a step.
Where to put them
The most common spots are beside the front door, at the top or bottom of the steps, or at the corner of a porch. One bale on each side of a door gives a balanced, symmetrical look. A single bale off to one side, with pumpkins grouped around it, feels more relaxed and natural.
Whatever you choose, keep the walkway open. Ohio State University's agricultural safety program reminds people not to block pathways or stairs with pumpkins or cornstalks, and the National Fire Protection Association says to keep exits clear of decorations. A bale should never narrow the path to your front door. Our post on arranging pumpkins on porch steps shows how to keep a full look while leaving room to walk.
How to style pumpkins on and around a bale
Think of the bale as the tallest point in the group. Set your largest or most striking pumpkin on top, slightly off center, and add one or two smaller pumpkins or gourds beside it. Then build out from the base with medium pumpkins on the ground, tucking smaller ones into the gaps. Stacking two bales, one on its side and one flat, gives even more height for a tall door or a wide porch.
A white pumpkin next to an orange one, or a few gourds spilling off the front edge, helps the display look layered rather than lined up.
Keep them dry
A bale sitting in a puddle or on wet ground will soak up water, and a wet bale is heavy, slow to dry and can start to smell or grow mold. It can also hold moisture against the pumpkins sitting on it, and against your porch boards. Under a porch roof is the best spot. If your bale has to sit in the open, set it on a couple of pieces of scrap wood or a pallet so water can drain away underneath. Our post on keeping a porch display dry has more ideas.
Keep flames away
Dry hay burns easily. New Jersey's Division of Fire Safety has warned that dried cornstalks and hay can be a fire hazard if they are not watched carefully, and that they should be kept far away from heat sources, including lighting and especially live candles. Use battery lights in any jack-o-lantern that sits on or near a bale, and keep bales away from heat lamps, space heaters, hot light fixtures and outdoor fire pits.
A few practical tips
Lift a bale by its twine near the ends and keep it close to your body, since bales are heavier than they look. Sweep up any loose bits around the base every few days so they do not get tracked inside.
When the season is over
Hay bales do not have to go to waste. A University of Illinois Extension educator suggests reusing the bales from fall decorations in the garden, pulling them apart to use as a winter mulch around tender or newly planted perennials. Loose pieces can also go into a compost pile. If a bale got moldy from sitting wet, it is best kept out of the house and away from pets.
Questions about your pumpkins?
If you have a pumpkin question we did not cover here, we would be glad to help. Call or text us at (513) 409-0005, or send a message through our contact page. We are a family-run business right here in the Springboro, Dayton and Cincinnati area, and we are always happy to talk pumpkins.