I’d like to put something decorative in the circle area of dirt between the mulch ring and the base of a tree. I realize this is generally verboten, but that stricture is usually for traditional mulches and other ill-considered materials. It seems that something that allows air and water to move freely into the soil without trapping moisture against the trunk/root flare, or that tends to create an environment that might promote other undesirable conditions, should be OK.
I’m just wondering if there is an accepted/acceptable approach. A thin layer of decomposed granite? Same thing, pea gravel? White stone? Large bark chips that will still allow moisture and air to exchange or dry away? What options are there?
Pecan shells works great for this. The Dallas Arboretum uses them almost exclusively. I don’t have a source for you - but easy enough to google and likely find in the deep south…
Also, @jrkriehn’s beer bottle suggestion was a serious one, even though I responded with a quip. There was a guy out on Craig’s list too long ago trying to get rid of all his extra [something] bottles and had pictures of the various creative uses he had for them, including a garden border and a walkway/path. Actually pretty interesting use of…
Make your own beach glass by renting a cement mixer and putting a bunch of different bottles into it and some sand - then let it go for half a day - wa-la - eternal decorative ground covering without chemicals.