Many people throw their carved pumpkins into the garden to feed animals, but this could be incredibly dangerous for some creatures.
Halloween falls on Friday, October 31, and once the festivities wrap up, countless Brits will find themselves stuck with their hollowed-out pumpkins.
Plenty of folk reckon tossing them into the garden for creatures to munch on is a brilliant way to give them a second life.
However, pumpkin can prove incredibly dangerous to British wildlife – potentially even deadly.
When consumed by hedgehogs, it can trigger tummy troubles and dehydration that may result in death.
Given that hedgehogs face extinction in the UK, it’s crucial to take steps that support their survival, reports the Express.
Gardening guru Josh Novell, Director of Polhill Garden Centre, has revealed a simple method to safeguard animals whilst enhancing your garden’s soil quality.
He explained: “Every year, tonnes of pumpkins end up in the bin when they could be doing wonders for your soil.
“Pumpkins are rich in nutrients like nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, all of which are essential for healthy plants.
“By digging them into your garden instead of throwing them away, you’re giving your soil a free, organic boost for next season.”
Rather than binning them or adding them to the compost heap, gardeners ought to chop up their carved pumpkins and bury them underground.
“This helps with drainage, moisture retention and plant growth, which is especially useful before winter sets in,” said Josh.
It also protects wildlife from danger, as they’re far less likely to stumble upon the pumpkin and consume it.
To tackle this gardening task, you’ll first need to ensure your Halloween pumpkins are spotless. Any remnants of paint or glitter can prove damaging to the soil, so make certain only pristine pumpkins are utilised. He said: “Anything decorative or treated can contaminate the soil or harm wildlife.”
Secondly, ensure the pumpkin is chopped into small portions. “Large pieces take much longer to decompose. Cutting them into fist-sized chunks or smaller helps them break down quickly and release nutrients evenly into the soil.”
Josh added: “One of the biggest mistakes people make is scattering pumpkin pieces across the surface; that’s an open invitation for rats and slugs. Always bury your pumpkin a few inches deep in the soil as this keeps pests away and helps the microbes get to work faster.”
Ensure that if you opt to dig pumpkins into your garden that you incorporate some dry material too such as leaves or old compost. This will prevent the soil from becoming slimy and will balance out the carbon and nitrogen levels in the soil.
If you wish to leave pumpkin out for wildlife in the garden, exercise caution, Josh warned: “Pumpkins can upset hedgehogs’ and deers’ digestive systems. If you do want to share with wildlife, leave only small, fresh portions out for a short time and make sure they’re not mouldy.”
