Here in the Northeast, even though the winter of 2010 was not particularly long, it was still very harsh. For most of January and February temperatures were well below 32˚F / 0˚C and these were followed by March when the rains came…and came again…and kept coming. In past years the milder winters made it possible to keep so-called “frost proof” terracotta pots outdoors. After last winter, however, nearly every unprotected terracotta pot in my garden cracked--or completely broke apart, due to alternating freezing and thawing. The result was a great collection of terracotta pieces that were ready to be discarded during the spring clean up.
Terracotta, which literally means baked earth in Italian, is just that, clay from the ground that is shaped then fired at a high temperature in a kiln. Beyond the mere aesthetic appeal of terracotta pots, there are certain advantages to using them. They are naturally porous, which allows water to drain away from the roots of potted plants. This characteristic minimizes the potential of root rot and other diseases that might come from overwatering. However, along with their benefits come their susceptibility to breakage. Even a slight crack can eventually grow and unexpectedly split a whole pot apart.
With the need to be more considerate of using everything to the fullest measure, gardeners seem to find the most judicious ways to salvage broken terracotta pots. Some will use the remaining pieces to line the bottom of other pots as a way to improve soil drainage. Another, more artistic, solution is to bury a pot that has broken in half partially in the ground, creating an archeological look. This is often enhanced with a plant that appears to be growing from the covered “artifact”.
Given an abundance of so many broken pots last spring, accompanied by a desire to be
environmentally responsible, the usual options seemed very run of the mill. After reading a section on creating stepping stones in the Smith and Hawken book Garden Structures, written by Linda Joan Smith, the thought of using broken pieces of terracotta in a cement stepping stone came to mind. The chosen area was on the north side of my house, where an old slate patio fronts a rock garden with a Mediterranean theme. Lemon trees, in terracotta pots, are placed among the flowers and the front of the bed is flanked with lavender and rosemary. It is here where several damaged patio slabs were removed and replaced with various pieces of pottery and terracotta positioned in fast-setting concrete. The result was a group of pieces that were simple to create and, in the end, suggested an archeological site.When working with concrete, choose a day in late spring or early fall, since temperatures then are optimal for curing to occur at the proper rate. First, a small area should be excavated for the stepping stone. A good size for a first attempt might be to create a stone 10 inches (25.4 cm) wide, 16 inches (40.64 cm) long, and at least 4 to 5½ inches (10.16 - 13.97 cm) in depth. After removing the soil, the empty space should be filled with Sakrete© Fast-Setting Ultra-High Strength Concrete Mix, which can be purchased at any home improvement store. This particular mix contains a number of small pebbles and stones, which add to a more natural appearance for the finished product.
Arrange the terracotta pieces in the dry concrete, then gently tamp them down with a mallet to insure contact with the mix. Brush away excess concrete dust from the pieces 
and also from any area surrounding the stone. Using a garden hose, give the area a good drenching spray for a few minutes until it is thoroughly saturated. It might be necessary to wipe some of the terracotta pieces with a towel to clean them if they are covered by any concrete residue from the spraying process. Allow the stone to set undisturbed and protected from foot traffic for at least 24 hours. After that time, sweep away any loose pebbles and spray down the stepping stone one final time.
The old adage "waste not want not" clearly demonstrates that being mindful of recycling is nothing new. Gardeners especially are resourceful and imaginative when it comes to getting the most from their supplies. In this way, using broken terracotta pots as classically inspired accents can promote a more eco-friendly sensibility and, at the same time, provide a cheerful touch of whimsy in a garden. However, the question remains as to how many of these “relics” one can possibly have without creating the temporal dissonance that begs: Is this Rome or just New Jersey? Were the Etruscans here or was this merely trucked in from Walmart? Are we in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius or simply within view of the Town of Hempstead’s Waste-to-Energy Incinerator Plant? So, while it may be tempting to want to create a whole garden of these whimsical stepping stones, perhaps a sense of restraint should always temper our artistic--and archeological--endeavors!
and also from any area surrounding the stone. Using a garden hose, give the area a good drenching spray for a few minutes until it is thoroughly saturated. It might be necessary to wipe some of the terracotta pieces with a towel to clean them if they are covered by any concrete residue from the spraying process. Allow the stone to set undisturbed and protected from foot traffic for at least 24 hours. After that time, sweep away any loose pebbles and spray down the stepping stone one final time.The old adage "waste not want not" clearly demonstrates that being mindful of recycling is nothing new. Gardeners especially are resourceful and imaginative when it comes to getting the most from their supplies. In this way, using broken terracotta pots as classically inspired accents can promote a more eco-friendly sensibility and, at the same time, provide a cheerful touch of whimsy in a garden. However, the question remains as to how many of these “relics” one can possibly have without creating the temporal dissonance that begs: Is this Rome or just New Jersey? Were the Etruscans here or was this merely trucked in from Walmart? Are we in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius or simply within view of the Town of Hempstead’s Waste-to-Energy Incinerator Plant? So, while it may be tempting to want to create a whole garden of these whimsical stepping stones, perhaps a sense of restraint should always temper our artistic--and archeological--endeavors!
