Gardens of Sweet Smelling Chocolate - Cocoa Shell Mulch
So I was reading the site for the Bloomer Chocolate Company, and ran across a link on their contact us page that sent me to the National Cocoa Shell’s website.
Cocoa shell mulch, also called cocoa mulch, cocoa bean mulch, cocoa bean shell mulch, or cocoa bean hull mulch is made from the shells that come off the bean during the roasting process. The shells are separated from the beans by strong air action and bagged by the National Cocoa Shell company for mulching gardens.
The mulch lasts longer, smells better, gets darker with age, and provides various nutrients beneficial to plants and the soil. It retains moisture better than regular mulch and is an excellent insulator for root systems in winter and summer. The only down-side? The sweet chocolate aroma only lasts 2-3 weeks.
I remember seeing this in an Asian-themed garden at my local garden center (Wasatch Shadows) when I went to view some plants for my landscaping project earlier this summer. It has quite a unique look, and a nice dark brown color. Check your local nursery for it… perhaps your garden might like a little chocolate as well.