5 DIY Ideas to Turn Your Yard Into Halloween

If you’re not into blowup figures or store-bought decorations, here are some natural ways to make your yard absolutely scary for Halloween – using 5 ideas for your hardscape.

1. Your fire pit. If you have an outdoor fire pit, you can use it two ways. First, pull up your chairs, light a real fire and invite your friends over for a glass of Halloween wine (something blood red), put on your scariest masks and be your own Halloween decoration. However, if you’d like something that doesn’t involve being outside yourself, heap a pile of orange Halloween lights to make a “fire” in the fire pit and then use poles with Styrofoam balls for heads. Cover them in gauzy fabric, tie their “hands” together and let them circle your fire pit.
2. Pumpkin monster. Put something really scary – but totally harmless – on the path to your front door. Get three large pumpkins graduated in size (think a snowman on its side). Now, turn those 3 pumpkins into a king-size spider. Set them down with a head, a middle and a backend. Create and cut out some scary eyes and pin them to the head. Find 8 curved sticks of similar length and stick them in the body for legs. You could even create a stick “stinger”. Make sure your spider has at least one leg on the path and is ready for your visitors.
3. The dead rise. They’re lifting up that piece of flagstone and coming forth. You can do this one with half a store-bought skeleton. Tip a flagstone and “open” it securely with stakes or some larger rocks. Now arrange the hand of the skeleton so he’s holding it open and his torso is starting to emerge from the grave.
4. Bird of prey. The raven is a symbol of Halloween and you’re going to find some very realistic ones at the store. You can even get a battery operated version with glowing red eyes. Now arrange that bird of prey on the top of a cairn you’ve made to make a “grave”. Just stack the rocks in the manner of cairn grave markers and add the bird.
5. Be nice! After all, you don’t want to scare the little ones – or deal with the rotting pumpkin. Find some round pumpkin shaped rocks and some more vertical gourd shaped rock companions. Now instead of carving, paint your “pumpkins” orange and your “gourds” green or yellow and give them happy, “carved” smiley faces.

Your hardscape is there for you to enjoy in every season. That fire pit keeps you warm and those pretty paths will show off potted poinsettias in just another month or so. Whenever you’re looking for something fun for your yard – whether it’s a new boulder for a focal point or pavers or flagstone to make a new path, be sure to visit your local hardscape supply store. They have so many different materials that your imagination is going to go wild with new ideas for your home.