It's a question almost every customer asks at some point: once fall is over, what do you actually do with a porch full of pumpkins? Hauling rotting gourds to the curb isn't exactly how anyone wants to spend the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Here's how it works with Gorgeous Gourds — and why most customers add removal to their booking before we even have to suggest it.
When the season ends, we come back and take it all down — no mess left behind.
The Short Answer
If you book the removal add-on, we schedule a pickup after Thanksgiving — typically the week of November 30. We come back, break down the full display, haul off every pumpkin, gourd, and stem, and leave your porch clean. You don't need to be home. You don't touch a thing.
If you don't add removal, the display is yours to deal with at the end of the season. That means hauling everything yourself, bagging it, and figuring out disposal. On a full Signature or Royal Gourd setup, that's a lot of pumpkins.
What Removal Actually Includes
- Full breakdown of the display — every pumpkin, gourd, and decorative stem
- Haul-away and disposal — nothing left at the curb for you to manage
- A quick sweep of your porch area before we leave
- No scheduling hassle — we coordinate the pickup date with you at booking
When Does Pickup Happen?
We schedule removal for the week of November 30 by default — right after Thanksgiving weekend. If your household has a specific date that works better (earlier or later), just let us know at booking and we'll note it. We build the pickup schedule in advance so we're not scrambling in December.
On a covered porch in Hickory, most displays still look solid through Thanksgiving. By early December, pumpkins that have been outside for 8–10 weeks start to soften and break down. Removing them before that point keeps your porch clean and avoids the mess of a fully deteriorated gourd.
What We Do With the Pumpkins
All removed pumpkins and gourds are composted or disposed of responsibly — none of it goes back into circulation or to another customer. Once a display comes down, it's done. What goes into your display is sourced fresh from North Carolina farms right before your install date, which is why our displays hold up as long as they do.
What Happens If You Skip Removal
Some customers prefer to handle it themselves — that's completely fine. A few things to plan for:
- Pumpkins that have been outside for 8+ weeks are soft and can be messy to move
- Larger packages (Royal Gourd, Signature Porch) involve significant volume — expect multiple trips to the curb or a truck run
- City of Hickory collects yard waste on a regular schedule — pumpkins go out with yard waste, not regular trash
- If pumpkins sit too long and deteriorate fully, cleanup gets significantly harder
It's not a difficult job, but most customers who've done it once add removal to their next booking without hesitation.
How to Add Removal at Booking
Removal is an add-on you select when you book — the price and details are listed on the packages page. We recommend deciding at booking rather than waiting until November, since we build the pickup schedule in advance and late additions are harder to accommodate.
If you're still figuring out which package fits your porch, start with the Hickory, NC service page — it covers package sizing, pricing, and how the process works from install to pickup.
The Bottom Line
The removal add-on exists because hauling a full porch display to the curb after a holiday weekend is nobody's idea of a good time. It's one of those things that sounds optional until you're standing on your porch in late November looking at a pile of softening gourds.
Most customers add it. We'd recommend it. And if you have questions about how it fits with your specific package, text us at (704) 448-3883 before booking and we'll walk you through it.