A Hospital that is your client wants to know what you can use as a topdressing, either inside or out, that has flame retardant properties.  An airport demands the same.  What do you do?  What product works in this way? 

Protoast.  This product is both recyled and is impregnated with fire retardant.  Made of wood chips that come from toasted old beer barrels, Protoast is available in large bags from Primescape Products.  It is not cheap but it fills the bill and when the client and the Fire Department says they must have, budgets go out the window.  Meanwhile, it is a toasty medium brown in color and relatively lighter weight than you might imagine.

The other product I suggest, also made from recycled materials (old plastic bottles) is Poly Pebbles.  These artificial "rocks" of Polypropolene, simulate Mexican Beach Pebbles.  They come in Black, White, Grey, or Tan.  Each bag of Poly Pebbles will cover approximately 4 square feet and costs $18.80.  Guesstimate shipping at about 20-25%.  They are only 25% as heavy as the real thing and come in 5 different shapes per bag.  They have UVA inhibitors in them so they are good to go either inside or out and I love them.  When a match or flame is touched to them they just seem to melt a bit, not flare up.  Available from TOPsiders (800)533-7661. 

Both of these products avoid the Spanish Moss, excelseior, other topdressing problems.  Last but not least, underplanting with live 6" foliage will also hide the "mechanics" of nursery pots to give a great look and still be greenery and not a flammable topdressing.  Now, go out there and get ‘em, Tigers.