Decorative mulch

Every year we put a pair of Boxwoods in pots on our deck. In the early years, I used our shredded leaf mulch to top off the pots — which the squirrels loved. A few years ago I got the idea to "mulch" the pots with our collection of stones that we've gathered on vacation and various hikes. Using them in that fashion made it seem less crazy that we owned boxes of rocks!

This year I decided to try mulching the pots with pine cones, an idea I admit I saw on Pinterest. I put down a layer of leaf mulch and then topped it off with pine cones I'd picked up all over the garden during spring clean-up. They are mainly from Austrian and white pines. The first day the squirrels tossed a number of the cones about. Then they displaced one cone per pot for a couple of days and now they seem to have lost interest. And using a different "mulch" has piqued my interest, since it gives our traditional deck pots a new look at no expense.

Comments

[Jenny]

Making use of fallen pine cones is a great idea. I have heard that keeps cats out of the planters too. There are so many things one can use to mulch, some nicer looking than others. I have used river rock quite a bit as the weight of stones also holds the pot down when we have strong winds. I have seen corks used too although I don't really care for the look.

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

jenny — ​Corks seems too unrelated to the garden, unless it is a restaurant garden! I often use rocks in containers to keep critters out and stabilize them. I love the look of river stones, so smooth.

[Nell Jean]

It's a great look and works well. I have a tub of pine cones that I had not thought to use in planters.

I put pine cones around my cabbages last fall to keep the cat from digging in the cabbage patch and the dog from digging behind him.

[Lisa at Greenbow]

We are about to finish our mulching for the year. Your pine cones look interesting in the pots below the boxwood. Makes one stop and think.

[Pam/Digging]

I think that looks great -- so appropriate in your woodland garden.