Welcoming Fall at New Leaf: Mums, Pumpkins & Gourds for the Season

6 days ago

4 min read

There’s something special about the first signs of fall.

The mornings start feeling a little cooler, the evenings come a little sooner, and suddenly we’re ready for mums on the porch, pumpkins by the front door, and all the warm, cozy colors that come with a new season.

As we begin to embrace summer’s end and welcome autumn here in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, New Leaf Greenhouse & Market is filling up with some of our favorite seasonal staples—mums, pumpkins, and gourds.

Whether you’re decorating your porch, adding a little fall color around the house, or just looking for an excuse to get into the season, we’ve got plenty of autumn favorites to choose from while supplies last.

Mums: The Classic Fall Favorite

Nothing says fall quite like a big, colorful mum.

Mums are one of the easiest ways to add instant seasonal color to your porch, patio, steps, or entryway. Their full blooms and rich fall tones make them a favorite year after year.

To help your mums stay looking their best throughout the season, keep a few simple things in mind:

Keep them watered.Mums can dry out faster than you might expect, especially during warm September afternoons or windy days. Check the soil regularly and water when the top begins to feel dry. Container mums may need water more often than plants in the ground.
Water the soil, not the flowers.Whenever possible, water near the base of the plant instead of soaking the blooms. This can help the flowers stay fresh and attractive longer.
Give them plenty of light.Mums love bright conditions. A spot that receives several hours of sunlight each day will usually help them stay strong and continue blooming.
Protect them from extreme weather.Early fall in the Eastern Panhandle can still bring hot days, heavy rain, and eventually some chilly nights. Moving potted mums into a protected spot during rough weather can help extend their beauty.
Remove faded blooms.Pinching or trimming off spent flowers keeps the plant looking tidy and allows the remaining blooms to take center stage.

Pumpkins: More Than Just a Porch Decoration

Pumpkins are one of the best parts of fall decorating because they work just about anywhere.

Line the porch steps, mix them into a display with mums and gourds, use them as table décor, or keep things simple with a few pumpkins by the front door.

A little care can go a long way when it comes to keeping pumpkins looking good throughout the season.

Choose a dry location.Pumpkins last best when they aren’t sitting in constantly damp soil or standing water. A covered porch or dry display area is ideal.
Keep them off wet ground.If possible, place pumpkins on a step, crate, piece of wood, straw, or another dry surface instead of directly on wet soil.
Check them regularly.Turn your pumpkins every so often and check the bottom for soft spots. Catching moisture issues early can help prevent rot from spreading.
Avoid unnecessary damage.Uncarved pumpkins will naturally last longer than carved ones, so if you’re decorating early in the season, consider keeping them whole until closer to Halloween.
Keep the stem intact.The stem is part of the pumpkin’s natural protection. Carry pumpkins from underneath rather than by the stem to help prevent cracking or breakage.

Gourds: Small Details That Make a Big Fall Display

Gourds are perfect for adding texture, color, and personality to your fall decorating.

Scatter them around pumpkins, tuck them into porch displays, fill baskets or bowls, or mix different shapes and colors together for an easy centerpiece.

To keep decorative gourds looking their best, keep them dry and allow good airflow around them. Just like pumpkins, sitting in moisture can shorten their lifespan.

If you’re using them indoors, placing them somewhere cool and dry can help them hold up longer.

Making Your Fall Display Last in West Virginia

September and October weather in the Eastern Panhandle can be a little unpredictable.

We can have warm, sunny afternoons followed by cool nights, periods of rain, and eventually the first real taste of colder weather. Paying attention to those changes can make a big difference in how long your fall plants and décor last.

A few simple habits can help:

Keep mums watered, but avoid letting them sit in soggy soil.
Move containers under cover during stretches of heavy rain.
Keep pumpkins and gourds on dry surfaces.
Bring especially nice décor into a protected area if frost or unusually cold temperatures are expected.
Keep an eye on your display and remove anything that begins to soften or deteriorate.

With a little care, your mums, pumpkins, and gourds can carry your porch and outdoor spaces through much of the fall season.

Come Celebrate the Season With Us

Fall always seems to arrive quickly, and our seasonal inventory tends to move just as fast.

Stop by New Leaf Greenhouse & Market and browse our current selection of mums, pumpkins, gourds, fresh flowers, gifts, market finds, and plenty of inspiration for welcoming the new season.

Once our fall favorites are gone, they’re gone—so don’t wait too long to make your porch officially autumn-ready.