Mud.....

When we get a downpour, soil splashes out of my pots and makes a mess. Mulch wouldn't help as it would just wash out too increasing the mess, and I'm not really fond of pea gravel...any suggestions?
Thanks!

Hi Dale! I have a great deal of my plants in containers and have encountered the same problem. I use small-scale plants, groundcovers, etc., and plant them around the base of the larger plant in the container, which keeps the soil in place and provides a little added interest.

I have used portulaca, ivy, miniature sedum, artillery fern, and things like that as base plantings. Have you tried soil-holding plants yet?

Jean

When I have container plants, I keep the soil level at least an inch or 2 below the rim of the pot; less of a problem with the soil running over the container that way.
you could put a layer of red river rock on top of soil; keeps the dirt in plus it also acts kinda like a mulch and it dresses up the container as well.
You can get bags of the red river rock at any home improvement store

I grow trailing plants in some of the pots too, but with the pots that are growing on and not in a "premium" spot I don't as their pots are generally too small. I hadn't thought about sedum or artillery fern...just break some up and sprinkle on top...thanks!