Prettifying bulb pots

Chilli flakes to deter the squirrels

Moss with a dusting of frost

Ornamental kale

I’ve been experimenting with bulb pot toppers. I have loads of pots now planted with bulbs and apart from looking a bit bare, I’m slightly worried the squirrels will see the undisturbed soil as an invitation to do some digging. So I’m trying a few different things: chilli flakes, which are supposed to be off-putting to rodents; gravel, which looks nice and tidy (and maybe a bit Japanese-y); moss, which goes well with the terracotta and injects a welcome bit of green; and various hardy plants: primroses, wallflowers, French sorrel, pansies and violas, and ornamental cabbage and kale. Oh and chicken wire over the big raised beds, which doesn’t look great but they’re a bit more out of the way and I’m taking no chances with the squirrels with them.

Actually, so far the squirrels have stayed away from them all. The moss looks nice – especially when laced with the occasional fallen leaf or lichen-frosted twig. The plants are nice too, but of course although they’re all surviving in the cold they’re not actually growing, so they look a bit sparse and inadequate. The chilli flakes and gravel are both ok; better than bare soil. I’m amazed how well the chilli is keeping its colour, even after loads of rain – a little sprinkle of fiery red over an otherwise pretty monochrome scene.

I’m not sure I have a favourite method yet. Maybe when spring rolls around and the plants start growing I’ll wish I’d planted them all. We will see…