In a desperate exertion to reduce the work involved by having to replace mulch every year in my flower garden, I began to do some explore on rubber mulch. What I found is that there has been lots of controversy about having rubber mulch around your garden because, agreeing to some gardeners, rubber mulch may leach chemicals that could kill your plants. In a narrative written in 1997 by Rufus Chaney, who is an environmental Chemist for the U.S.D.A. Agricultural explore Service, he says that in his studies, small amounts of zinc in rubber mulch could leach into the soil over time.
The next narrative I read came from the U.S. Buyer product safety Commission which tested gravel, wood chips, and rubber mulch and they gave rubber mulch the top shock absorption ratings when used as playground covering. This is good news for parents and teachers alike as it will supply safety and minimize the cuts and bruises children get while at playgrounds.
Several other studies that I read stated that rubber mulch is non-leaching, non-flammable and non-toxic to plants, animals and pets. The question with these studies is that these were done and sponsored by the fellowships that process the mulch so I do not know if we should believe this or not. And, the arguments continue between the environmental agencies and the fellowships that organize rubber mulch.
So, we now know that rubber mulch is good if used in playgrounds and other non-garden connected areas, but what about a flower garden? First, take a look at what rubber mulch is. It is made from old rubber tires that had the steel bands removed. It does not matter the size, quality or make of the tire, any old tire will do. It does not matter if the tire came from a truck or a passenger car. The rubber from these tires is then made into nuggets thus creating rubber mulch. Next, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using rubber mulch.
Advantages
o it is recycled material which benefits the environment
o it insulates the soil protecting it from heat
o does not dispell water so it keeps the soil moist
o prevents weeds since seeds will dry in the mulch prior to reaching the soil
o shredded rubber mulch can be used as landfill
o does not wash away during heavy rain
o does not decay
o does not sink to the ground
o does not attract termites, ants and other garden insects
o can be purchased in distinct colors to add beauty to a garden or landscape
o no need to take off old mulch year after year from the garden
o saves time and money tending to garden needs
Disadvantages
o it is more high-priced than quarterly wood mulch
o may leach chemicals into the soil
o does not supply soil with any organic matter
o some gardeners have reported that it killed some of their plants
o may yield bad odor when spread in the garden
By reviewing the lists above, it is safe bet that the advantages of using rubber mulch are much greater than the disadvantages. But, should we take a opportunity and use it on our flower gardens? That is a decision that each private gardener needs to make.
As for me, I took a opportunity and bought rubber mulch in March of this year and replaced the old wood mulch in my flower garden. I must admit that I was a petite nervous at first, but it was a time and money saving decision that I had to make. I staggering some bad odor to permeate all around my garden, but there was none. Time will tell if the rubber mulch will damage some of my plants but so far, my flower garden is doing well and the rubber mulch looks great.
Rubber Mulch - Is it Safe For Your Flower Garden?
