How to Make Halloween Decorations

Homemade Halloween decorations are a world away from the mass-produced flimsy plastic and paper dollar store offerings. Making your own decorations ensures a unique look, plus you can reuse items around your house that might otherwise go to waste. By making your own decorations with family and/or friends each year, you can look forward to an enjoyable Halloween tradition.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Decorating with Pumpkins

1. Make a Jack O'Lantern. No Halloween would be complete without the iconic Jack O'Lantern in its various forms. The classic Jack O’Lantern is made by carving a pumpkin and placing a candle inside it, but here are some other ideas:
   
   • Carve a disco ball pumpkin. This is a carved pumpkin with a twist and it throws light out from all over its many holes. It's a load of fun to make and people won't be able to resist making comments about it.
   • You can make Jack O’Lanterns out of various fruits and veggies, including oranges, pomegranates, and peppers.
2. Decorate a pumpkin. If you don't want to go through the mess and stress of carving a pumpkin, there are many ways to decorate a pumpkin without carving it:
   
   • Paint or spray paint a pumpkin a single color. You might leave it one color (silver and gold are popular), or draw designs on the pumpkin with a sharpie after it’s been painted.
   • Use a stencil to help you draw or paint a face or other designs on your pumpkin.^[1]
   • Use stickers or other surface embellishments to decorate a pumpkin. If you want to use something more natural, consider covering a pumpkin in lovely autumn leaves.
   • Dress your pumpkin up like a person. Use your pumpkin as the head of a mummy or zombie in your yard, put a wig on it, or add other embellishments that make it look more human (or monstrous, as the case may be).
   • Peel your pumpkin. Draw a design on your pumpkin and then use a knife to only cut deep enough to pierce the skin. You want to expose the pumpkin’s flesh without cutting the flesh. Draw an outline with your knife and then dig the knife beneath the pumpkin’s skin as you pull the skin back.
3. Grow a pumpkin patch.^[2] This one is a long-term project and will only work if you have access to a yard, but it’s sure rewarding. Choose a large spot that will give the pumpkins ample space to grow and that will be easily seen by trick-or-treaters.
   
   • Make sure the spot will get lots of sun, and that the soil can get ample drainage, especially after heavy rain.
   • You’ll need to find out when to plant pumpkins in your region. Pumpkin seeds generally need to be planted in late spring or early summer if you want to harvest them in the fall.
   • There are different types of pumpkins to choose from: pie pumpkins for eating, decorative pumpkins for carving, and mini pumpkins.
4. Make a fake pumpkin patch. If you aren’t into growing pumpkins, just buy a bunch of pumpkins and arrange them in a way that mimics a pumpkin patch. Don’t forget to add vines and greenery to make it look more authentic.
   
   • You can even make a neat yard design with pumpkins, for example, having them line your path. In this case you could connect them with vines so that they look kind of like a pumpkin fence.
5. Make pumpkin tabletop decorations. There are quite a few ways that the pumpkin can grace your Halloween party or dinner table:
   
   • Make a still life arrangement using miniature pumpkins of various shapes and sizes. Pile them up beautifully, with a few fall leaves here and there.
   • Decorate a pumpkin with netting and ribbon, and then place it in the middle of your table as a centerpiece.
6. Make paper pumpkin cut-outs. Use construction paper or different types of card stock to make pumpkin-shaped cut-outs for decorating your home.^[3]
   
   • You can make big cut-outs to fix to your walls, or smaller ones for bunting, banners, and mobiles.
   • To make pumpkin bunting or garland, glue a row of paper cut-outs to yarn or a long strip of paper, and hang them up around your home. If you’re worried about the cut-outs falling off the yarn, poke holes in the top of them and run the yarn through instead of glueing them.^[4]
7. Make pumpkin favors. These cardboard decorations can be placed along benches, on shelves or they can be strung along like bunting for a ceiling decoration:
   
   • Cut out a 3-inch circle from a piece of orange cardboard (one for each favor/guest). This will form the base of your pumpkin.
   • Cut out a 9-inch circle from orange crepe paper or tissue paper. This will form your pumpkin. You need one for each base that you cut.
   • Place the cardboard circle into the center of the crepe paper circle. If you want to, you can fasten it in the center so that it doesn’t move around while you finish making the favor.
   • Gather the edges of the crepe paper/tissue and pull them up so that it looks like a bag.
   • Stuff the “bag” tightly with cotton balls, shaping it as you go so that the bag is in the shape of a pumpkin. Tie a knot at the top of it.
   • Twist the paper at the top so that it looks like a stem. Add some glue to the “stem” so that it won’t unravel, then cover the stem with green paper.
   • Use a black felt pen or stickers to add a face to your pumpkin, and you’re done!
8. Make a pumpkin collage. A pumpkin collage can be an interesting piece of artwork for decorating a wall. Start with a cardboard cut-out of a pumpkin, and then fill it in with items of your choosing.
   
   • You might fill the collage with autumn leaves, photos of previous Halloweens, or images from your favorite scary movies.
9. Make a pumpkin wreath. A simple wreath can be made using a wire wreath form and miniature pumpkins as follows:^[5]
   
   • Place the miniature pumpkins in a circle to see how many you'll use to make a wreath. You may need around 14 to 20 pumpkins, depending on their size.
   • Drill a horizontal hole through each miniature pumpkin. Keep the holes as close to the bottom of the pumpkins as you can, as this will keep them hidden from view when the wreath is hanging.
   • String 20-gauge wire through the first pumpkin's holes. Place this pumpkin against the wire wreath form and twist the wire inside the pumpkin holes around the wire wreath form to keep in place.
   • Repeat for each pumpkin until all are attached to the wreath form.
   • Tuck dry moss into the gaps between the pumpkins. Keep this in place with more wiring.
   • Tie a large bow at the top of the wreath, leaving long tie lengths hanging below the wreath. Cut the ends diagonally to prevent fraying.
   • Hang a wire hook at the top of the wreath and hang the wreath in position on your front door.
10. Make mini-pumpkin candle holders. Pick out some mini-pumpkins at your local grocer or pumpkin patch. Cut off the tops and scoop out enough flesh to make room for a votive candle or tea light.
    
    • Push the candle or tea light into the emptied mini-pumpkin and you’re done.
    • Place the candle holder wherever you'd normally use a candle, using common sense to keep it away from flammable items.
11. Make pumpkin-shaped candles. Purchase wax, wicks, and pumpkin moulds from your local craft shop. Place the wick in the mould, melt the wax down, and pour it into the mould too.
    
    • Once the wax cools, remove it from the mould and you’ve got a pumpkin candle.
    • You can add colors and/or scents to the wax to the candles as well.

[Edit]Decorating with Witches

1. Make a witch hat decoration. You can do this using paper, felt, or if you’re comfortable sewing, you can use fabric. You’ll need a quarter-circle for the top and a circle with a hole in the middle for the brim.
   
   • If you’re short on time, you can buy plain black ready-made witch hats from the dollar store or anywhere else that sells Halloween costumes, and then decorate those.
   • Once you have your hat, decorate it with artificial gems, glitter, stickers, felt pieces, ribbon, sequins, or whatever else tickles your fancy.
   • You can even make a witch-hat collage by pasting various items onto a paper witch hat or a piece of cardboard that has been cut into the shape of a witch’s hat.
   • You can use the decorated hat as a centerpiece on your table or on other surfaces around your house.
   • You can also hang the hat from the ceiling — just make sure it’s low enough that people can see your decorations, but out of the way so that no one will accidentally bonk into it and knock it down.
2. Get creative with your witch hats. Use decorated witch hats or paper cut-outs of witch hats in varying sizes around your house. You can use small witch hats for bunting or garland, for instance, alternating the hats with cut-outs of black cats, brooms, and candy corn.
   
   • You could even make a witch hat in a candy corn theme by sewing or pasting together fabric that has orange at the base, yellow in the middle, and white at the tip.
3. Make paper witch decorations. There are lots of ways to turn the silhouette of a witch into decorations, including witch garlands, streamers, collages, cards, signs, and cut-outs.
   
   • Witch silhouettes are especially effective decorations when placed against a window or white surface.
   • With the witch come some other traditional symbols that can be added into your artwork, including the black cat, the moon, and the broomstick.
4. Make witch legs. Stuff a pair of stripy stockings with whatever you’ve got handy — batting or polyester filling will work nicely. If you’ll be putting the legs outside, avoid filling them with paper products or anything else that is easily damaged by water.
   
   • Draw and cut out witchy-looking boots on a fabric of your choosing (black is recommended). Draw each boot on 2 pieces of fabric (or 1 piece folded in half), and make it extra large as it will shrink when sewn and stuffed.
   • Cut, sew, and stuff the boots, and attach them to the ends of the stockings.
   • Put some wire in the legs to make them bendy, then stick them in a prop cauldron to make it look like the witch fell in her own brew. You can also have the legs coming out from under a flower pot or anywhere else for that matter.
   • If you’re a film buff you could make it look like your house fell on a witch (like in The Wizard of Oz) by stuffing a pair of black and white striped stockings and putting sparkly red shoes on them, then fastening them to the ground near the foundation of your house.
5. Make dangling witch legs. Follow the instructions for making witches legs — stuffing tights and sewing witchy boots on to the ends of them. Once that’s done, make the witch a skirt:
   
   • Cut 20-inch-long strips of black tulle or another crunchy fabric that will mimic a fluffy crinoline.
   • Cut the handle off a cheap umbrella (be careful that you don’t hurt yourself doing this), then tuck and tie the legs and crinoline up into the spokes of the umbrella.
   • The crinoline should hide all of the metal in the umbrella so that it just looks like a large skirt with a witch’s legs sticking out. Fasten it to your ceiling (you can cut a hole int the top of the umbrella and pull the stockings through to use as a hanging device) and Voila!
6. Make lollipop witch brooms. You’ll need lollipops (big round or oval ones work best), a brown felt pen, tissue paper (the fancy stuff you wrap presents with, not kleenex), scissors, twine, and name tags (optional).
   
   • Use the brown felt pen to color in the lollipop sticks brown. You can also use black or dark brown if you think this would look better.
   • Cut a bunch of squares in your tissue paper, all of the same size. Four inches by four inches is recommended.
   • Gently put the lollipop stick through the middle of the tissue square and then pull the tissue down until it rests on top of the lollipop.
   • Pull the tissue around the lollipop candy, and then scrunch the rest of the tissue up before tying it with twine to hold it in place. You may need to trim the edges of the tissue so that the broom can stand upright.
   • These can double as place settings at the dinner table as well as party favors. If you want to use them as place settings, tie a name tag around the section of the broom that’s tied with twine.

[Edit]Decorating with Ghosts

1. Make fabric ghosts. White fabric scraps of all sorts can be easily transformed into ghosts. You don’t even need to sew them: you can just cut out squares of fabric and drape or tie them into your desired shapes.
   
   • One popular method is to scrunch up newspaper into your desired ghosty shape, drape a piece of felt or fabric overtop of it, tie the fabric with twine to form the ghost’s “head”, and then draw a ghosty face on it.
   • Use white fabric scraps to make ghost cut-outs to turn into pictures or bunting. You can also sew little white scraps of fabric into finger puppets, or stick them on to empty toilet rolls to make ghosts.
2. Make paper cut-out ghosts. Use card stock, construction paper, or simple white printer paper and transform it into ghosts of all sorts, including ghost pictures or cut-outs, ghost collages, and ghost bunting or garlands.
   
   • You can also cut out a large ghost shape from cardboard and use it as the base for a collage.
3. Make use of your bedsheets. Drape white or off-white bedsheets over objects around your house to give the impression of ghosts.
   
   • You can also make your room look like a room in an old haunted mansion by covering nearly all of your furniture in sheets and then putting spiderwebs in the corners.
   • You might even add a skull and/or a crystal ball to a table, and play some creepy Halloween sounds in the room.
4. Make a ghost out of cheesecloth and fabric stiffener.^[6] This is just one of the many ways in which you can transform household objects into ghost decorations.
   
   • Start by creating a frame for your ghost’s shape. Stack two cups vertically end to end (with the rims facing out), and place a small balloon on top. Lay down some newspaper or a plastic bag beneath this to catch any liquid that follows from the cloth as it dries.
   • Cut 8 inches of cheesecloth. If the ends are ragged, all the better, as this will make your ghost look more creepy and old. Off-white and beige cheesecloths are good choices.
   • Soak the cheesecloth in fabric stiffener. Use a bowl for this. Make sure the cheesecloth is well coated before you take it out.
   • Remove the cheesecloth from the bowl of fabric stiffener and immediately place it over the balloon-cup frame. It should take roughly 10 minutes to dry.
   • Once the cloth is dry, pop the balloon by poking a pin through the cheesecloth. This will leave you with a hardened ghost shape.
   • Now you can decorate your ghost in any way you want. When you’re happy with it, pull some fishing line, thread, or twine through the top of the ghost and hang it up.
5. Make a ghost out of a styrofoam head, a wire hanger, and some fabric.^[7] You can give the ghost broader shoulders by adding additional wire and extra fabric to the hanger.
   
   • Bend the hook of the hanger so that it’s straight, then gently push the styrofoam head down onto it. Now it’ll look like a head sitting on top of shoulders.
   • Drape white fabric over the head and hanger, and then adjust the fabric until you’re happy with how it looks, cutting it to make it look more ragged, or bulking it up in places to make it look more like a person’s figure.
   • If you want you can add long wire arms to the hanger and then put stuff white latex gloves at the ends of the “arms” to make it look more like a person.
   • Once you’re happy with how it looks, hang it up by tying fishing line around its neck and fastening it to your ceiling or anywhere else you like.
   • You can find styrofoam heads at most Halloween supply shops, but also some beauty supply and craft shops.

[Edit]Decorating with Spiders

1. Make spider-shaped paper cut-outs. Draw spider shapes on construction paper or card stock and cut them out, then fix them to your walls or to string to make bunting or garland. You can also use the spider shape as the basis for a collage.
   
   • Paper spiders can be stuck all over the wall, among fake webs, and in bushes. Be careful about putting the paper spiders outside, as they might get wrecked if it rains.
   • Use cardboard for larger spiders that can be hung from ceilings or greater heights to dangle in people's faces. You might cut up garbage bags and glue them onto these so that they’re shiny black spiders.
2. Make a spider from repurposed items. As an example, you could make a spider from an egg carton and pipe cleaners:^[8]
   
   • Cut out an egg carton piece to form the spider’s body. Paint in the color you want the spider to be — black, neon, purple with red spots, etc. You might even use a glow-in-the-dark or black-light paint.
   • Pierce four holes down one side and another four down the other side of the egg carton piece, then slip pipe cleaners into the holes each side to form eight legs.
   • Reshape the legs so that the spider can stand properly and perhaps have two legs splayed in front.
   • Glue on a bunch of pre-made googly eyes or paint them on to make the spider’s face. You can also add fangs.
   • If you want the spider to be larger, you can use two egg carton pieces for the body, and then glue on a ping pong ball or something similar to form the spider’s head.
3. Make a spider web. If you want a web or two for all the spiders you’re making, you have many options:
   
   • A string web is made by weaving a web using string and a wire frame, and then gluing the cutting out the round part of the web. You then hang the web from the ceiling using another piece of string. (Paper or light plastic spiders go well on this web.)
   • A pipe cleaner web is made from twisting together 4 pipe cleaners and then working outward until you’ve reached the desired web size. (Pipe cleaner spiders go well with this web.)
   • A doily web is ideally made of crocheted doilies that have been sprayed black. Use string to attach the doilies to a transparent or loosely woven sheet, keeping space between them so that they look like different webs.
   • A cheesecloth web will look like an old abandoned cobweb. You cut it into the shapes you want, and then gently pull on it so that the strings come apart and look more web-like. Then you hang it from your ceiling/on your walls/in your windows.

[Edit]Making Other Decorations

1. Make a Halloween wreath. Add Halloween-themed items to a plain wreath to dress it up. You can purchase a pre-made wreath base, or you can make a wreath from scratch with Evergreen tree branches, twigs, or burlap.
   
   • To make the wreath look extra Halloweeny, spray paint it black, orange, purple, silver, grey — or any other color you’d like.
   • Use a hot glue gun (or have your parents help you) to glue black tulle, orange feathers, fake eyeballs, fake spiders, or other Halloween-y items into the wreath.
2. Make glowing ping pong ball decorations. For this you only need felt pens, ping pong balls, electric tea lights, and something sharp to poke holes into the ping pong balls with (scissors or a screwdriver will work).
   
   • Just draw on the ping pong balls and then pop them on top of an electric tea light and turn it on to see them glow and flicker. Creepy eyeballs and faces are good choices for this craft!
   • Another option is to attach pipecleaners to the sides of a ping pong ball and make it look like a spider — a glowing spider, that is!
3. Make paper bats. Bats, like spiders, are another popular creature featured in Halloween decorations. Use construction paper or card stock to make bat-shaped cut-outs that you can hang around your house.
   
   • You might even use a large bat-shaped cut-out as the base of a Halloween-themed collage.

[Edit]Tips

• Themes for great decorations include bats, black cats, coffins, masks, candy corn, snakes, mummies, eyeballs and toenails, cobwebs, rats, owls, vampires, witches and broomsticks, ghosts, zombies — the list is almost endless!
• You can also make a cool Halloween banner!

[Edit]Warnings

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• If children make the decorations, supervise anything they're not capable of doing for their age range, such as cutting, piercing holes, sewing, etc.

[Edit]Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Fabric
• Recycled goodies
• Markers, pens, paint, etc.
• Pumpkins
• Scissors, glue, and related crafting gear
• Items as mentioned for each craft type

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• How to Make Scary Halloween Decorations

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ [v161537_b01]. 29 October 2020.
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGHqYOGTlo8
3. ↑ [v161537_b01]. 29 October 2020.
4. ↑ [v161537_b01]. 29 October 2020.
5. ↑ http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/decorating/wreath-pumpkins
6. ↑ http://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/how-to/g1021/ghost-craft-1010/
7. ↑ http://www.bhg.com/halloween/crafts/front-porch-ghost-decorations-for-halloween/
8. ↑ http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/insects/mspidercarton.htm

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How to Make Marshmallow Fluff

Marshmallow fluff (also called marshmallow creme ^[1]) is an American marshmallow confection that's creamy and rich. It's a type of spread that can be smeared on top of many foods to be eaten with. The possibilities are endless with this spread: Try adding it on cookies, graham crackers, sandwich bread, cupcakes, or on hot chocolate for a new twist to your meals.

[Edit]Ingredients

[Edit]Basic Marshmallow Fluff ^[2]

• ⅓ cup (90 grams / 3 ounces) water
• ¾ cup (180 grams / 6 ounces) granulated sugar
• ¾ cup (240 grams / 8 ounces) corn syrup
• 3 egg whites at room temperature
• ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

[Edit]Two Ingredient Marshmallow Fluff ^[3]

• 1 cup (240 ml) mini marshmallows or 10 jumbo-sized marshmallows
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) corn or simple syrup

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Basic Marshmallow Fluff

1. Pour the water, corn syrup, and sugar in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan.
   
   
2. Over low heat, stir the ingredients together until the sugar dissolves. Mix well with a whisk. It will usually take about 6-7 minutes for the sugar to completely dissolve.
   
   
   • Make sure the heat is at low temperature. The mixture should not be simmering as this could affect the texture of the marshmallow fluff. ^[4]
3. Bring the heat up to a medium temperature. Place a candy thermometer in the mixture while it begins to simmer and cook.
   
   
   • The mixture should no longer be stirred or mixed. Small crystals will begin to form and should not be touched while being heated.^[5]
4. Allow the mixture to simmer until it reaches 240° Fahrenheit (120° Celsius). Using the candy thermometer, check the temperature of the mixture. Once it reaches the exact temperature, shut off the stove and remove it from the heat.
   
   
5. Beat the cream of tartar and egg whites together. In a separate medium-sized bowl, whip the two ingredients together with an electric mixer. Blend on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes.
   
   
6. Slowly fold in the dissolved sugar mixture. Bring down the speed of the electric mixer to low. Carefully pour in the sugar mixture made before, pouring it in as a thin, steady stream.
   
   
7. Blend the mixture together on high speed. Keep whipping until the mixture begins to fluff up and look glossy, taking about 6-8 minutes.
   
   
   • The egg whites at first might deflate when being beaten, but they'll begin to thicken after continually being mixed. ^[6]
8. Stir in the vanilla extract, if desired, and mix once more until well-combined.
   
   
9. Store the marshmallow fluff. Transfer the fluff in an airtight container, scraping all of it out from the double boiler. Close the container with a tight lid. The marshmallow fluff can be stored either in the refrigerator or at room temperature, lasting up to 6 weeks or longer.
   

[Edit]Two Ingredient Marshmallow Fluff

1. Over low heat, melt the marshmallows in a double boiler. The marshmallows will start off solid and then begin to turn a little liquid-like with a few lumps. It'll usually take about 3-5 minutes for the marshmallows to begin melting. ^[7]
   
   
2. Fold in the syrup and mix. Stir with a wooden spoon, combining the syrup with the marshmallows.
   
   
   • Be sure to give the marshmallow fluff plenty of stirs. Not stirring it enough will cause the marshmallows to scorch or turn into the texture of taffy. ^[8]
3. Continue mixing the marshmallows. Keep stirring until the marshmallow fluff becomes a smooth, lump-free spread.
   
   
4. Allow the marshmallow fluff to cool for about 5-7 minutes. Let it sit at room temperature until it's warm, but not completely cool. If the marshmallow fluff cools completely, it's harder to store away since it's sticky. ^[9]
   
5. Store the marshmallow fluff. Transfer the fluff in an airtight container, scraping all of it out from the double boiler. Close the container with a tight lid. The marshmallow fluff can be stored either in the refrigerator or at room temperature, lasting up to 6 weeks or longer.
   
   
6. Finished.
   

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• If the marshmallow fluff is extremely thick, add an extra teaspoon of syrup.
• Ensure the dissolved sugar mixture is liquid-like and not firm when making the marshmallow fluff. If it does firm, place it back on the stove to heat up again.

[Edit]Warnings

• Take caution when handling the dissolved sugar mixture - it is hot!

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Make Marshmallows
• Melt Marshmallows

[Edit]Things You'll Need

• Stovetop
• Double boiler or heavy-bottomed saucepan (depending on method)
• Mixing utensil
• Electric mixer (for method 1)
• Airtight container with lid

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://marshmallowfluff.com/history-of-marshmallow-fluff/
2. ↑ https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/homemade-marshmallow-fluff/
3. ↑ https://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/12/make-marshmallow-fluff-from-marshmallows/
4. ↑ https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/homemade-marshmallow-fluff/
5. ↑ https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/homemade-marshmallow-fluff/
6. ↑ https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/homemade-marshmallow-fluff/
7. ↑ https://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/12/make-marshmallow-fluff-from-marshmallows/
8. ↑ https://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/12/make-marshmallow-fluff-from-marshmallows/
9. ↑ https://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/12/make-marshmallow-fluff-from-marshmallows/

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How to Prune a Fruit Tree

Pruning stimulates tree growth, enhances fruit production, and gives a tree a proper shape. Wait until your tree is dormant to prune it. Always get rid of diseased, damaged, or dead branches. Discourage the growth of multiple trunks and inward-facing branches. Ensure your fruit tree gets adequate light to all its branches and avoid thick tangles of branches that inhibit fruit growth.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Knowing When to Prune

1. Prune fruit trees in the winter. In the winter, your fruit tree is dormant (and therefore not producing any leaves or fruit). This makes it easier to target the areas you want to prune and promotes the best production possible.^[1]
   
   • Most fruit trees are best pruned during winter.
   • Some trees, like orange trees, can be trimmed and pruned in early spring instead of winter.
2. Prune dead or damaged limbs in the summer. While it's a good idea to routinely prune your fruit tree during the winter, you also want to do some light pruning in the summer if you see dead or damaged branches. This will keep your fruit tree healthy all year round.
   
   • Some fruit trees, like cherry and apricot trees, require summer pruning.
   • Don't prune too much during the summer or you could slow down the fruit’s ripening process and expose the fruit to sunburn.^[2]
   • If you're not sure whether your tree needs summer pruning, consult a botanist. Botanists are specially trained experts who know a lot about plants. They can help you determine whether or not summer pruning is appropriate for your tree.
3. Prune young trees right after you plant them. After planting a new, young tree, trim the main trunk down to between 24 and 30 inches (61 and 76 centimeters) high. Trim any side growths down to no longer than two buds. This will equalize the tree’s top with its root system.^[3]
   
   • If you’d like a taller tree that is good for sitting under in summer and fall, make this initial pruning cut at a higher point on the young tree.^[4]
4. Trim young trees that aren’t growing well. If you have a young tree that is not growing well, prune it heavily for its first three years. Heavy pruning during the first few years means a lower fruit yield at first, but in the long run your fruit trees will be strong and productive.^[5]
   
5. Trim healthy young trees less frequently. If your young tree is growing well, allow it to continue doing so. Trim it irregularly or not at all.^[6]
   
   • Irregular pruning does not have a universally constant definition. It refers instead to the practice of trimming the tree to a lesser extent than you would a normal, mature tree. You might trim it once each winter, or not at all.
   • There are some physical signs that your young fruit tree is ready for pruning. Look for healthy growth characterized by a strong framework of permanent branches. Absent this framework of branches, prune your young fruit tree more often.

[Edit]Choosing How to Cut

1. Use a heading cut to create a nicely shaped tree. Cut above an outward facing bud at a 30-degree angle. This will encourage the branch to grow up and out in a direction that will give your tree a red wine glass-like shape. If you cut above an inward-facing bud, the branch will grow incorrectly inward toward the tree, which you don't want to happen.^[7]
   
2. Make a thinning cut. A thinning cut is used to thin out the tree branches and allow more sunlight to reach the limbs. Perform a thinning cut by clipping a branch as close to the collar of the tree as possible, taking care not to leave an exposed node.^[8]
   
   • Perform thinning cuts on branches that are at least 50% smaller than the diameter of their parent branch.^[9]
3. Perform a bench cut. A bench cut is used to thin out the center of the tree and get rid of strong upright shoots and branches. To perform a bench cut, identify horizontal branches, then cut the branches and shoots coming out of their top side (especially those close to the trunk).
   

[Edit]Maintaining Your Fruit Trees

1. Choose the right tools. Use sharp shears on young trees with branches that are 1/2 inch (1.27cm) in diameter or smaller. Use pruning saws or long-handled loppers for pruning mature trees.^[10]
   
   • If you don’t have pruning tools of your own, you might be able to rent some from your local hardware store – a good option for a tool you might use for only a few hours each year.
2. Sanitize your tools to prevent infection. After pruning a particular tree, dip the blades of your shears or pruning saw in a solution of one part alcohol and one part water for at least 60 seconds before moving on to the next tree. This will prevent disease from spreading to other trees. Alternately, you could use a solution of water and commercial cleaning solutions like Pine-Sol, chlorine bleach, or Lysol. Just mix one part cleaning solution with a volume of water five times that of the cleaning agent and dip your pruning tools in it for at least 60 seconds.^[11]
   
3. Select which branches to prune. Always cut dead, damaged, and diseased branches (the “three D’s”). Additionally, cut any suckers – short, new branches sprouting from the trunk. Watersprouts – branches that grow straight up from an outward-facing limb and typically appear in spring – should be pruned, too.^[12]
   
   • Remove competing and downward-growing branches. Downward-growing branches generally do not produce a very high fruit yield.
   • Generally, do not prune branches that are growing out of the trunk at about a 45-degree angle. Anything growing at a much smaller or larger angle should be pruned.^[13]
4. Develop a single leader. If the trunk of the tree splits into several parallel and competing trunks, your tree will have trouble growing and will be more difficult to prune. Prune your tree in such a way that discourages direct upright growth, except from the central trunk. Only the uppermost bud of the leader should be allowed to remain during pruning sessions.^[14]
   
   • This system is appropriate for most trees, and crucial for apple, pear, cherry, and European blue plum trees.
   • For a few fruit trees – peach, nectarine, apricot, and Japanese plum trees – pruning to a central leader is unnecessary.
5. Ensure all branches receive adequate light. Try to prune the top of the tree more heavily than the undergrowth. This allows more sunshine to reach the shaded branches, encouraging them to produce fruit.^[15] Additionally, cut branches that are too close together. Every branch should have six to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) of space around it. If you have a cluster of close branches, prune the thinnest of the bunch.^[16]
   

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• If you live in Northern California, prune apricot trees in the summer.
• Apple, pear, cherry, and plum trees have slower growth rates and only need about a fifth of the previous year's growth pruned away.
• Peach, nectarine and kiwi trees grow quickly. You will need to remove half of the previous year's growth.

[Edit]Warnings

• Make clean cuts and don't leave behind stubs.
• Improper cutting techniques can lead to disease and pest infestations. Cuts that allow for standing water enhance the possibility of rot and mold growth.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Prune a Lemon Tree
• Prune a Tree
• Prune Rose Bushes
• Prune Plum Trees
• Prune a Bonsai Tree

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ http://cesonoma.ucanr.edu/files/27164.pdf
2. ↑ http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu/pruningfruit.pdf
3. ↑ http://cesonoma.ucanr.edu/files/27164.pdf
4. ↑ http://acmg.ucanr.edu/Growing_Your_Own_Food/Pruning_Fruit_Trees/
5. ↑ http://cesonoma.ucanr.edu/files/27164.pdf
6. ↑ http://cesonoma.ucanr.edu/files/27164.pdf
7. ↑ http://groworganic.com/organic-gardening/videos/how-to-prune-fruit-trees
8. ↑ http://groworganic.com/organic-gardening/videos/how-to-prune-fruit-trees
9. ↑ http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu/8057.pdf
10. ↑ http://modernfarmer.com/2015/02/right-cut/
11. ↑ http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/903
12. ↑ http://modernfarmer.com/2015/02/right-cut/
13. ↑ https://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/successful-tree-pruning
14. ↑ https://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/successful-tree-pruning
15. ↑ http://modernfarmer.com/2015/02/right-cut/
16. ↑ https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/training-and-pruning-fruit-trees-in-north-carolina#types

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How to Get Over Fear of Commitment

A supportive guide on how to trust yourself and lean into a long-term relationship

People with a fear of commitment may desire to give themselves fully to a relationship, but, perhaps due to past trauma, are afraid of being hurt. They pull away instead. If you are looking for help with your fear of commitment, it is recommended that you talk to a mental health professional who can help you make sense of your feelings. While you are working through the issues that created your commitment phobia, consider learning some ways to help navigate the dating world. Or, if you are already in a relationship, you could learn some ways to help work through some of your fears with your significant other.^[1]

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Discovering the Reasons Behind Your Behavior

1. Examine the reasons why you might be afraid of commitment. A fear of commitment is likely the result of past experiences. Consider what events in your life may have contributed to your fear. A therapist or close friend may be able to help you with this by being there to listen to you.^[2] You may also consider talking with family members you consider “safe” to get more information on what took place during your childhood. Keep in mind that trauma and your age at the time of the experience may affect your memory.
   
   • You may have had a previous relationship you thought was going well end suddenly without warning.
   • You may have been in a previous abusive relationship.
   • You may have suffered child abuse or other trauma while growing up.
   • You may have experienced your parents divorcing while growing up.^[3]
   • You may have unmet needs or attachment issues stemming from childhood.
2. Name your fears. Figure out what it is about commitment that scares you.^[4] Different people may find different aspects of commitment frightening. Generally, most people are afraid of intimacy and genuine emotional connection, but there is often another aspect that is holding them back to pursuing a committed relationship.^[5]
   
   • You may be afraid that you are making the wrong choice. You may be with someone and think, “But what if there is someone better out there for me?”
   • You may be afraid that you are losing your freedom. You may no longer have wide-open weekends or the opportunity to do whatever you want, when you want. You will have another person’s needs and wants to consider.
   • You may be afraid of the monotony. By being in a relationship, you will be forced to do the work of a relationship, which is not all fireworks and butterflies. Authentic relationships take a lot of maintenance to thrive.
   • You may be afraid because of negative experiences in past relationships. Consider when you first started to feel anxious or uncomfortable in committed relationships. This may shed some light on the cause.
3. Journal. Spend some time writing in a journal about your commitment fears. Journaling helps you clarify your feelings and understand yourself better. Your written record also serves to show you a track of your progress, which can help you feel better about yourself.^[6]
   
   • Try to turn off your inner censor and write quickly, without worrying about spelling or punctuation.
   • Try to get into the habit of regular journaling. Many people find twenty minutes or so, first thing in the morning, to be mind-clearing and focusing.
   • Be sure to revisit what you wrote to see if you hit on any clarifying points. Don’t worry if this doesn’t happen all the time. Journaling is a process.
4. Examine other areas of your life for possible commitment phobia. Note any areas in your life that cause you frequent stress or anxiety, and consider whether commitment issues could be to blame. Does your fear of commitment in relationships also show up in other parts of your life? If you see a pattern, you may wish to consider talking to a counselor about how to break the cycle.^[7]
   
   • For example, you may be renting an apartment in an area in which you have lived for years, because the idea of owning property and being “stuck” somewhere is terrifying. Or you may have dropped out of a training program for a job you wanted because you were afraid that would narrow your options down the road.
   • You may struggle with staying in one job for a long period of time. Not having a track record of consistent employment may result in career difficulties or stagnation down the road. Speaking to a career counselor to help you figure out your professional goals and develop a plan of action may be useful in this situation.
   • Figure out what might make non-relationship commitment phobia easier for you to manage. For example, you may feel more comfortable about buying a big-ticket item after doing lots of research on it. Or you may find rewarding yourself for sticking to a plan is the key to your consistency. For example, if you stay in a job for two years, you will reward yourself with a cruise.
5. Find a therapist. Look for a counselor or social worker who can work with you on exploring your commitment issues. You may want to look for someone who specializes in relationship issues and attachment theory. Make sure they are licensed by a state or national governing body that oversees mental health care professionals.^[8]
   
   • Attachment theory focuses on a child’s early connections with their primary caregiver. This is important to consider in pursuing your own therapeutic work, because your early connections with your caregivers may have influenced your commitment phobia and/or how you navigate adult relationships.
   • Ask your doctor, check with your insurance company for a list of in-network providers, or contact your local community health agency, for suggestions on how you can find a therapist near you. You could also type “find a therapist” into a search engine and you will find websites that can help you locate one.

[Edit]Committing to a Long-Term Relationship

1. Have realistic expectations and stop making comparisons. Understand there is no such thing as a “perfect” relationship. Every relationship has its stumbling blocks, but every relationship also has its unique, wonderful aspects as well.^[9] If you are comparing your relationship to someone else’s or to a relationship on a TV show or movie, then it is important to stop doing this.
   
   • All couples will argue. Not airing conflict is not healthy to a relationship, after all. Differences of opinion are to be expected between two people from time to time.
   • All couples have something they do not like about their partner (whether they are willing to admit it or not!). Mature couples understand that, as long as their partner’s behavior is not a violation of their values, there will always be something unpleasant or annoying about their partner they have to accept.
2. Communicate with your partner. Keep lines of communication open with your partner to avoid surprises/trust issues on both sides.^[10] Be honest about your fears so that your significant other can help you work through them.^[11]
   
   • Be specific about problems that you need to address and how they make you feel. You could say, “Last night you asked me when we could get engaged. It made me feel very pressured.” This is better than, “You always pressure me about marriage!”
   • Show empathy to your significant other by actively listening to them and paraphrasing back what you hear. For example, if your partner says, “I don’t know if you’ll ever want to get married,” you could say, “You’re worried that I don’t want to marry you.” This will help you better understand where your partner is coming from.
   • Apologize if you’ve made a mistake or hurt their feelings. Take responsibility for your behavior causing their pain. For example, “I’m so sorry I didn’t call you last night. I realize now that I had you worried.” Remember that there is no weakness in apologizing. Apologizing demonstrates humility, warmth, and trust.
   • If you need help better communicating as a couple, couples counseling may help you learn how to better communicate with each other. Look for a counselor who is trained in couples therapy to help you.^[12]
3. Explain your fears to your partner. While it may upset your partner to know that you are afraid of committing to them, it is better than keeping them in the dark. Keep in mind that you are not doing anything wrong by staying in the relationship as long as you are honest about your fears of commitment.^[13] The other person has the ability to leave the relationship any time they wish. Hopefully, you have been doing some of your own inner work and have an understanding around why you are afraid to commit.
   
   • You could say, “I really care about you, but I have noticed that the closer we get, and the more in love with you I am, the more I feel like I want to push you away. This isn’t because you are doing anything wrong. It is because I am afraid.”
   • Try asking for understanding. You could say, “I know this is probably upsetting for you, but I hope you can understand where I think this is coming from. I am afraid to rush into things after my previous relationship. Do you think you could help support me and help me feel less afraid?”
4. Think about your personal goals for the future. Consider what you would like your life to look like five or ten years down the road. Does this vision include a committed, long-term relationship (married or not)? Would you like to have a family? Discuss your ideas with your significant other.^[14]
   
   • If you and your significant other are discussing a deeper commitment to each other (such as moving in together or marriage), and you feel like it is moving too fast, talk to them. You could say, “I know you are ready to take this step, but I am feeling anxious about it. Would you be willing to wait to help me get comfortable with this idea?” Ask your significant other what amount of time would be appropriate.
   • Keep in mind that it is also important to work on your commitment issues during this time and think about whether or not this is the person you really want to be with. Do not just remain in the relationship and hope for a sign.
5. Remember why you are with your significant other. Remember what compelled you to choose them and why you remain interested. It may be helpful to create a list of things you love about them.
   
   • Keep the list in a safe place that you can easily access in times you are feeling anxious or ready to run. Your words about how much you value this person may help keep you grounded and centered.
   • Share your list with your significant other. They will find it very touching to know how much you value them.

[Edit]Dealing with Dating

1. Make concrete plans and don’t cancel. Commitment phobes are notorious for being hard to pin down for invitations and plans. Challenge yourself to agree to dates planned a week out in advance -- or whatever is outside your comfort zone -- and do not cancel.^[15]
   
   • Don’t say, “I’ll try to stop by” or “I might be able to make it.” Say, “Yes, I’d love to come,” and keep your word.
2. Stop promiscuous behavior. If you have a tendency to sleep around, understand that your behavior may be the result of a search for an intimate connection with someone. The next time you have a desire to reach out to a friend with benefits, try connecting with a friend for a real conversation instead.^[16]
   
   • Call a friend you trust and suggest meeting for coffee, for a drink, or for another activity where you can talk.
3. Stop getting numbers of people you won’t call. Don’t set other people up for disappointment. If you have no intention in pursuing a relationship with the other person, do not lead them on. ^[17]
   
   • Say you are talking to someone at a party. They say, “Hey, maybe we can get together sometime!” You know that you are not really attracted to the person and are not interested in pursuing a relationship. You could say, “I’m not really interested in dating right now, but thank you,” or “That’s so nice of you to offer, but I am working on some personal stuff right now.”
4. Pursue the person you are truly interested in. Often, people with commitment issues do not pursue people they really like because they are afraid of the rejection, as well as the potential for a relationship. Instead, commitment phobes often find themselves having flings with people with whom they share few common interests, or people with whom they do not see a future.
   
   • Pursue a person with whom you share common values. If you want to develop a genuine relationship with someone, you need to make sure you share some common foundations upon which to build your relationship. These may be things like a shared culture or faith, the value you place on your careers or family, or character traits you both value in others.^[18]
   • Take a risk and put yourself out there for the person you really like. While a “no” can be painful and feel like a setback, you will learn it is not the end of the world. See the setback as a chance to make yourself braver.
   • If the person you are interested in is also interested in you, great! Have courage and move slowly, and let the person know you want to move slowly. You could say, “I really like you and want to get to know you better, but I have had some difficult times in the past. I hope you can respect that I want to take this slow for right now.”

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Have a Secret Relationship With Someone

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/03/18/fear-of-commitment-ideas-that-may-help/
2. ↑ http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2015/01/08/what-is-commitment-phobia-relationship-anxiety/
3. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/terry-gaspard-msw-licsw/5-ways-to-overcome-your-f_1_b_5080476.html
4. ↑ [v161439_b01]. 29 May 2019.
5. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/moshe-ratson/how-to-overcome-fear-of-c_b_8229998.html
6. ↑ http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-health-benefits-of-journaling/
7. ↑ http://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/commitment-issues#Effects of Commitment Issues
8. ↑ http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_stop_attachment_insecurity_from_ruining_your_love_life
9. ↑ http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2015/01/08/what-is-commitment-phobia-relationship-anxiety/
10. ↑ [v161439_b01]. 29 May 2019.
11. ↑ http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2015/01/08/what-is-commitment-phobia-relationship-anxiety/
12. ↑ http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_stop_attachment_insecurity_from_ruining_your_love_life
13. ↑ [v161439_b01]. 29 May 2019.
14. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/moshe-ratson/how-to-overcome-fear-of-c_b_8229998.html
15. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-mysteries-love/201503/10-signs-your-lover-is-commitment-phobic
16. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-mysteries-love/201503/10-signs-your-lover-is-commitment-phobic
17. ↑ http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/03/18/fear-of-commitment-ideas-that-may-help/
18. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/terry-gaspard-msw-licsw/5-ways-to-overcome-your-f_1_b_5080476.html

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