Comments on: Rubber Mulch: Where the Rubber Meets the – Soil?

By: Shelley

Shelley — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 17:28:45 +0000

I appreciate the info you’ve provided about Rubber Mulch. I don’t have a garden, but was considering it around the front of the house and around trees. My biggest concern was if it would stink like, well, TIRES…. Guess my question was answered. Thank You, Thank You. Real Mulch it is.

By: Genevieve

Genevieve — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:01:46 +0000

I sure wish I knew, Patricia. But I live in a very rainy part of California so have never encountered the need for fire-safe mulch. I did a bit of looking around on two sites that I trust – Dr Linda Chalker-Scott’s site and GardenMentors.org and haven’t found anything useful. I wish you the best in finding this info out – you know what I’d do? I’d call your local agricultural extension office in the phone book and see what they have to say. I bet they have a large amount of info that is regionally appropriate.

By: Patricia of San Rafael

Patricia of San Rafael — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:48:54 +0000

Thanks for this mulch tip. I was searching the website for “fire safe” mulch and this article came up in the search. I am trying to find a mulch that I can use that is considered “fire-safe” since I live on the edge of a “forested” area. I love the wood mulches but these burn so I can’t use them. I’ve thought of the “rocks/gravel” alternative but would rather not go that route if I can find a more soil friendly alternative. Any suggestions?

By: Genevieve

Genevieve — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:26:23 +0000

I am so glad this provides you with a comeback, Kris! If you want to print it out and give to folks at the nursery, the Print This Post link at the bottom gives a printer-ready version complete with writing out the links for further research!

By: Kristina

Kristina — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:56:16 +0000

We’ve had quite a few request for this in our nursery – now I have even a better come back on why not to use it. My main concern was getting it out of the soil ’cause you know its going to work its way down and the cost always seemed excessive for “mulch”. Thanks for researching!!

By: rebecca sweet

rebecca sweet — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:16:58 +0000

yuck, yuck and yuck. I can’t imagine any gardener putting that down in their garden! It’s just a huge oxymoron!! I would imagine it would smell a little ‘rubbery’ on a hot day? And why wouldn’t someone want to amend their soil with natural substances? I just don’t get people…

Thanks for writing such an informative piece – I’ll bookmark this for sure, as I’m sure I’ll get asked about this at one point or another…
rebecca sweet´s last blog ..What I keep in the trunk of my car…

By: ryan

ryan — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:22:17 +0000

I don’t think it should even be called mulch. Like you said, a big part of mulch is that it breaks down and feeds the soil. Anything that doesn’t fill that purpose should not be called mulch. I didn’t know it was a fire hazard. That’ll be a good one to discourage people.

By: Genevieve

Genevieve — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:14:42 +0000

Pomona, yes, I am such a fan of organic material that I hardly knew what to say to my friends when they bought the darn stuff. It not breaking down seemed to be a benefit in their minds, but – all I could think was about the dead sad soil they’d leave.

And Susan, you are so so right about the removal if it became a problem or if tastes change. Seems like most landscapes that need to hire a pro for demo-ing have some non-breaking-down thing that became a problem – red lava rock, for example. It costs money to apply and then money to remove, without providing much benefit along the way.

And removed rubber mulch would go straight to the dump – can’t even use it for fill I don’t think. People often forget to think about these things, but it won’t stay pristine and effective forever, so the end of the mulch’s life is important to consider.

Linda – thanks so much for commenting and for writing those excellent articles!! Such an important topic, and I love your new blog.

By: Susan Fox

Susan Fox — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:51:52 +0000

Rubber mulch. Yuk. Doesn’t break down and how would you ever remove it if it became a problem? Something else that superficially sounds good- a way to recycle gazillions of old tires- but isn’t, once you look at the consequences.

By: Linda Chalker-Scott

Linda Chalker-Scott — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:52:48 +0000

Darn it, I did the blog name wrong. It’s http://www.gardenprofessors.com .