| In a desperate attempt to reduce the work | | | | then made into nuggets thus creating rubber |
| involved by having to replace mulch every year in | | | | mulch. Next, we will discuss the advantages and |
| my flower garden, I began to do some research | | | | disadvantages of using rubber mulch. |
| on rubber mulch. What I found is that there has | | | | Advantageso it is recycled material which benefits |
| been lots of controversy about having rubber | | | | the environmento it insulates the soil protecting it |
| mulch around your garden because, according to | | | | from heato does not absorb water so it keeps |
| some gardeners, rubber mulch may leach | | | | the soil moisto prevents weeds since seeds will |
| chemicals that could kill your plants. In a report | | | | dehydrate in the mulch prior to reaching the soilo |
| written in 1997 by Rufus Chaney, who is an | | | | shredded rubber mulch can be used as landfillo |
| environmental Chemist for the U.S.D.A. Agricultural | | | | does not wash away during heavy raino does not |
| Research Service, he says that in his studies, | | | | decayo does not sink to the groundo does not |
| small amounts of zinc in rubber mulch could leach | | | | attract termites, ants and other garden insectso |
| into the soil over time. | | | | can be purchased in different colors to add |
| The next report I read came from the U.S. | | | | beauty to a garden or landscapeo no need to |
| Consumer Product Safety Commission which | | | | remove old mulch year after year from the |
| tested gravel, wood chips, and rubber mulch and | | | | gardeno saves time and money tending to garden |
| they gave rubber mulch the highest shock | | | | needs |
| absorption ratings when used as playground | | | | Disadvantageso it is more expensive than regular |
| covering. This is good news for parents and | | | | wood mulcho may leach chemicals into the soilo |
| teachers alike as it will provide safety and | | | | does not provide soil with any organic mattero |
| minimize the cuts and bruises children get while at | | | | some gardeners have reported that it killed some |
| playgrounds. | | | | of their plantso may produce bad odor when |
| Several other studies that I read stated that | | | | spread in the garden |
| rubber mulch is non-leaching, non-flammable and | | | | By reviewing the lists above, it is obvious that the |
| non-toxic to plants, animals and pets. The problem | | | | advantages of using rubber mulch are much |
| with these studies is that these were done and | | | | greater than the disadvantages. But, should we |
| sponsored by the companies that process the | | | | take a chance and use it on our flower gardens? |
| mulch so I do not know if we should believe this | | | | That is a decision that each individual gardener |
| or not. And, the arguments continue between the | | | | needs to make. |
| environmental agencies and the companies that | | | | As for me, I took a chance and bought rubber |
| manufacture rubber mulch. | | | | mulch in March of this year and replaced the old |
| So, we now know that rubber mulch is good if | | | | wood mulch in my flower garden. I must admit |
| used in playgrounds and other non-garden related | | | | that I was a little nervous at first, but it was a |
| areas, but what about a flower garden? First, | | | | time and money saving decision that I had to |
| take a look at what rubber mulch is. It is made | | | | make. I expected some bad odor to permeate all |
| from old rubber tires that had the steel bands | | | | around my garden, but there was none. Time will |
| removed. It does not matter the size, quality or | | | | tell if the rubber mulch will damage some of my |
| make of the tire, any old tire will do. It does not | | | | plants but so far, my flower garden is doing well |
| matter if the tire came from a truck or a | | | | and the rubber mulch looks great. |
| passenger car. The rubber from these tires is | | | | |