Say Goodbye To Traditional Birdbaths: Turn A Plastic Pumpkin Into A Fall DIY

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As you go about getting your garden ready for the fall bird migration, you may be looking at updating or adding to the available water features in your yard and garden. After all, whether it be a birdbath or pondless water feature, one of the best ways to draw in birds to your backyard throughout the year is to provide them with a source of fresh water. At the same time, you might want to add some seasonal flair in time for autumn, which is tough to do with traditional, store-bought birdbaths. By turning a plastic pumpkin into a creative DIY water feature, you can actually accomplish both goals with one project.

Of course, there is no shortage of DIY garden fountain ideas. However, the one circulating on social media from YouTubers Robbie and Gary Gardening Easy, incorporating plastic Jack-o-Lanterns, is a fun way to add some Halloween spirit while providing much needed hydration for migrating birds. Even better, once Halloween has passed, simply rotate your creation so the Jack-o-Lantern face is hidden, and you have a fall fountain to see you through the Thanksgiving holiday.

For this DIY project, you will need a waterproof plastic Jack-o-Lantern pumpkin, a sturdy plastic bowl, straws, and a small fountain pump. If you intend to place your birdbath in a part of your yard that doesn't have ready access to power, choose something like a Pulaco solar fountain pump or the same brand's rechargeable USB submersible pump. You will also need a pair of heavy-duty scissors, painter's tape, and either a drill and drill bits or a soldering iron. Depending on the size of the bowl and any platform you might choose — and the size of the birds that visit — this DIY may trend more bird waterer than birdbath. The choice is up to you.

To build your DIY birdbath, start by cutting the handle off the pumpkin. Make sure your plastic trick-or-treat bucket holds water, as not all do. Next, cut a notch at the top of one side of your Jack-o-lantern to allow pump cords to pass through. This is best done in the same location as one of the existing holes where the handle was. Use a drill or soldering iron to make a hole in the center of the plastic bowl, just large enough for a straw or tube to pass through, with no excess space. Then make several smaller holes all around the base of the bowl. These allow water to drain back into the pumpkin's base, creating a circulating system.

Next, cut a section of tubing or a thick plastic or silicone straw long enough to reach from the pump in the bottom of the pumpkin and extend a few inches above the bowl. Place the straw over the nozzle on the pump. You can wrap the nozzle with a layer or two of painter's tape before sliding on the straw for a tight fit. Once the pump is fitted with the straw, set it in the bottom of the pumpkin and place the bowl on top with the straw protruding through the hole in the center.

At this point, simply fill your DIY birdbath with water, set it in place, and turn on the pump. However, you can also modify this project in countless ways. You can create a platform (or several) from lightweight plastic, silicone, or foam, fitted over the straw. This makes the whole setup more attractive for hummingbirds, which prefer shallow water. Or add pebbles to the bottom of the bowl as a handy perch for birds and bees.