Rubber may not be initially what pops into your thoughts when you think of mulch, however this mulch is gaining in popularity due to a variety of reasons. It’s durable and stays put and isn’t a magnet for bugs. Because it’s made of recycled tires there are some doubts regarding its health for the plant and soil.
Pros of a Low-Maintenance Strategy to safeguard the plant roots
Rubber mulch can stay in place for a long time to shield the plant’s roots from freezing and hot temperatures as well as keep out weeds and deter insects.
It requires minimal maintenance
Because it degrades in such a slow manner, mulch made of rubber will appear alike year over year with minimal maintenance. Although cheaper mulches may fade, the majority of varieties are guaranteed to be in good condition and look great for at minimum 10 years. Contrary to most organic mulches, you don’t need to replace the mulch each year or so, meaning you’ll be saving time as well as cost.
Don’t Let It Drift
The weight of the mulch is so high that it will not easily sink or fall away. If your garden bed is saturated by rain or excessive irrigation, the pine straw or wood chips, are most likely to drift and float in such a way that you’ll need to remove the mulch from its it’s place. The force of strong winds and leaf blowers are able to do the same thing to organic mulches that are lightweight. If you are in an area that is prone to storms region or use wind-generating gardening equipment, mulch made of rubber will help you with cleanup.
Doesn’t draw pests
The wood-based mulch is known to attract pests, such as termites, carpenter ants and wasps, which restricts the areas you can use the mulch. Pests that are attracted by these types of pests avoid the mulch made of rubber. You can utilize rubber mulch around the foundation of your house or around outbuildings and not worry you’ll get termites. Actually, the mulch can help protect your home from pests that eat wood, which means you’ll use less pesticide.
Insulates Well
When it is in the summer months, mulch helps protect the roots of your plants from the heat and dehydration and during winter it shields against frost. Being a powerful insulator it is among the top options for your garden if you want to shield the soil and roots of your plants against the weather. If you reside in a hot climate be sure to stay clear of dark shades of mulch made from rubber, as they absorb heat and may cause excessive heat to the soil.
Inhibits Weed Growth
The ability to keep weeds in check is one of the primary objectives of mulch and rubber mulch can do the job quite effectively. While it’s a feasible option for controlling weeds but it’s not as effective over the long-term like organic mulches.
For a complete control of weed growth by using a mulch made of rubber, you’ll need an amount of minimum 2 inches or at a minimum, 4 inches. The mulch will not hinder the growth of the seeds or young weeds that are already present in the soil. So ensure you weed or till the soil before mulching.
Increases the Safety of Play Areas
The strength and durability of rubber mulch makes it ideal for protecting children from falling in play areas. The mulch is also clear, which means it will not stain your children’s clothes. It also stays on the ground so that they aren’t dragging it into the home. Be sure to purchase the kind that doesn’t have wires. To absorb shock put up a thick layer that is at minimum 6 inches.
Cons Pros: Costs of Purchase and potential soil contamination
Despite being a recycled material, rubber mulch doesn’t come cheap. Additionally certain metals and chemicals that are used in the tires used to make rubber mulch could be a cause for soil pollution.
Costs more upfront
It is a lot higher priced than natural mulch. Many brands will cost over $10 for each cubic foot and some can cost as much than $15 for a cubic foot. You can also add on the cost of landscape fabric you’ll need to cover this mulch.
For comparison prices, pine straw is typically between $5 and six dollars per cubic foot. However, naturally colored wood chips may be purchased for about 2 cents per cubic foot. However, the ones that are dyed are more costly. Straw costs less than these chips, but you’ll have to replace it each year.
Although rubber mulch lasts longer, it will take 6-8 years an typical homeowner to recover their investment. If you’re willing to use the same mulch for this long is a good option, it’s a reasonable choice. Be wary of cheap mulches made of rubber that are usually made of radial tires and could still contain pieces of wire inside. A mulch without wires is more expensive.
Poses an a minor fire hazard
Since petroleum is present in rubber mulch It is far more likely than other mulches to come in contact with the flame from a heat source like an ashtray or a tip-over garden lantern. If it does happen, it’s likely to burn more quickly and more hot, be more difficult to control, and then emit thick smoke that is laden with dangerous chemical. There’s a low chance of your mulch being burned but it’s something you should consider in the event you’re searching for an option that’s safe for be used around flames that are open.
Very difficult to get rid of
If you’re planning to use mulch made of rubber it is necessary for you to put in landscaping material to separate the mulch from soil. Because once pieces of mulch are into the soil, they’re almost impossible to remove unless take them out manually. In reality, you may require removing the entire upper layer of soil in order to remove all the rubber.
This makes weeding more difficult also. The mulch isn’t biodegradable quickly and does not add nutrients to soil, therefore you aren’t able to push it in the ground to rid it of the weeds. If weeds appear it is necessary to remove them out by hand.
It is possible to release harmful metals and chemicals
If heated by sunlight, the rubber mulch may release compounds known as volatile organic compound (VOCs). These fumes don’t just generally smell unpleasant, but they’re also harmful to your health. In an area that has hot summers, you should avoid making use of rubber mulch for the seating areas, as you don’t want to smell from hot rubber.
Even more disturbing the mulch could let heavy metals such as zinc, aluminum, cadmium and chromium from the soil, and eventually into the groundwater. Particularly, the rubber that comes from tires has a significant concentration of zinc oxide that can build up in the plants you grow and eventually cause them to die. This can be more of an issue in regions where the soil already contains zinc, and it’s recommended to test your soil prior to applying mulch made of rubber.
It is durable and easy to maintain and a fantastic insulation Rubber mulch is an ideal option for beds that have mature trees or shrubs. The soft, springy texture can also be useful in areas for play with children. For vegetable and flower beds, however it’s not the best choice. Plants that are smaller are more vulnerable to the chemicals and the metals in the mulch. The ground , and plants can absorb these pollutants.
