Autumn seems to be a favorite season for most New
Englanders, and it’s no wonder why! The changing colors, harvest décor, warm
days and cool nights exude a sense of magic and whimsy that are simply infectious.
New England is known for many of its autumn traditions, such as apple picking,
pumpkin picking, hay rides, warm cider and fresh cider doughnuts. It’s also a
wonderful time of the year to get creative with landscaping and outdoor decorations!
Fall Flowers: There are so many beautiful flowers to
pick from, but our favorite is the hardy mum! Mums come in an array of colors
and are well-suited to tolerate early frosts which might arise during the
month of October. They also come in many sizes, from mini-mums to giants. Black-eyed
Susans, Asters and Sunflowers are wonderful accents to include, though are
not as likely to tolerate an early frost. Faux versions are a great way to
achieve your aesthetic without worries about a premature freeze.
Pumpkins and Gourds: Autumn is harvest time, and
pumpkins and gourds are in abundance! With so many shapes and colors available,
the only limit is your imagination. Use varying sizes and colors to create
depth. Place them around walkways, doorways, paths, gardens, steps, flower
beds, and more. Carve spooky faces into them later in October for Halloween, or leave them whole to last into November!
Hay bales and cornstalks: Farms are packing up for the
winter, bundling straw and harvesting cornstalks. These have become a staple of
New England autumn décor, and can be picked up for a small price from your
local farm or nursery. Hay bales in particular are great staging areas for
other decorations like pumpkins, gourds, and flowers. Tie a cornstalk up to
your front porch or light pole with some colorful orange ribbon!
Outdoor Lighting: Good lighting can make or break your
display, but you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars. String lights can
subtly light your landscaping, or you can use warm white spotlights to
highlight specific points around your yard. Lanterns are also a beautiful way
to spruce up a hay bale display, or hang from a tree to create ghost
lights. Feeling the Halloween bug? Many local retailers offer fun Halloween lighting and accessories, from funky spotlights to giant lawn
decorations. There are many solar-powered options, if running wires is an issue.
Front Door: Nothing is so warm and inviting as a
colorful autumn entryway! Use wreaths, garlands, lighting, cornstalks, ribbon,
pumpkins and more to dress up your front door. You can even purchase a fun,
rustic farmhouse sign from your local craft store, or paint your own. If you
have a porch, your design could sprawl from your front door to a cascade of
jack-o-lanterns and autumn leaves.
Feeling Spooky: Turn your front yard into a cemetery
with carved headstones, sepulchers and statues. You can purchase them and many other spooky decorations at your
local Halloween shop, or if you’re feeling ambitious, make your own using
carved styrofoam. Fake spider webs on shrubs or porches are an instant
way to lend an eerie air to your property. Scarecrows can be a fun family
project, or you can purchase them at your local craft store. We really love
some of Martha Stewart’s displays from over the years.
Feeling Thrifty: If you want a rustic look, look into
purchasing antique farm equipment or whiskey barrels. These can look amazing
with mums and pumpkins buffeting their edges. Old wheel barrels have been used
by many over the years to great effect. We’ve even seen hay balers
and antique plows as centerpieces. Whiskey barrels can be planted straight-up,
or laid on their sides with flowers “spilling out.” The bonus is any of these
items can be redecorated each season!
No matter how complex you decide to get with your designs
this fall, make sure you have fun and spend some time enjoying the season! From
all of us here at Pro-Turf, Happy Fall and Happy Haunting!
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