I was looking into swingsets and saw that they now sell rubber mulch (recycled tires) to go underneath them - sounded pretty good to me. http://www.permalife.com/default.asp

The same websites have rubber landscape mulch which make fabulous promises including that it will last for years and years, won't blow away, be flooded away, acts as a weed barrier if there's at least 2 inches of depth, water gets to plants, easy to clean out (leaf blowers will blow organic material out, mulch stays in place), etc., etc. Obviously, there's no organic benefit to the plantings.

This stuff sounds like a dream come true for me, the person who wants little to do with her landscaping, especially mulching.

Does anyone have it, know anyone who has it or know of any huge negatives about it?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mamattorney,

Just make sure it's guaranteed to have no pieces of steel-belted radial tires included. Seriously. Makes for cuts, scratches, tetanus shots etc. when used in playground areas.

tire zinc


Don't use it. One of the #1 waste problems on planet earth is tires. The amount of used tires generated worldwide each year is almost incomprehensible. Thus a lot of attempts to make products out of used tires.

If you want to be a billionaire discover how to make $ out of a legitimate product that utilizes tires- or produce earthworms in large quantities (they are the best at quickly mitigating industrial site like old strip mines).

But of course people have been trying for decades. - remember the sandals with tire soles?

The only thing that sounds good for is an indoor riding arena. Just to keep the dust down. I wouldn't put that stuff around my plants/house it's gotta smell like . . . . well old tires and won't provide your soil with any nutrients. In addition, I believe they vulcanize the rubber with lead.

Can't they just re-melt that crap and use it to make new tires?

Lead hasn't been used in the vulcanization process for years. Sulfur yes, lead no...

Seems like it would add more heat to the ground surrounding any plantings you have. Maybe that would damage any perennials sensitive to heat?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: NEBF,

How does one know or verify the provenance of the tires used to make this stuff? Just seems like such a not great idea.

What's the benefit again?

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
How does one know or verify the provenance of the tires used to make this stuff?

God forbid the Clamato household would have mulch made from Cooper Tires off a 78' Dodge and not Bridgestone's off a 02' BMW.

BTW, I have four Blizzaks mounted on steel rims with BMW wheels covers....if anyone want to make mulch or mount them on an E39 BMW. Free to a good home.

If the tires were manufactured in 1978, then there probably is lead in the mulch. Lead is bad.

the benefit is that you are not using any new resources to create the mulch and actually recycling something that's a huge problem in landfills. The appeal is to NOT have to re-mulch every year or so.

Trust me, if it weren't the height of "unfashion", I would cover my spaces in my landscape beds with those 1970 type rocks; the whole concept of mulching just annoys me. It's like when I dump 1/2 a box of baking soda down the garbage disposal to make it smell nicer - I always just feel like I'm buying the stuff to literally throw it away.

But the mulch benefits the soil. Other than appearance, that's really why it is done, isn't it?

I'm not a gardener by any stretch of the imagination, but it's my understanding that there are three real reasons to use mulch:

1) inhibit weed germination;
2) to help the top level of soil retain moisture from rain/watering longer than exposed soil; and
3) organic benefit to the soil/plantings from the degrading process of the mulch (I'm thinking similar to compost, but I don't really know.

The rubber mulch seems to take care of (1) and (2), but not (3).

quote:

longer than exposed soil

Not even part of the argument as the question is wood vs. rubber.

If I were a gardener, the more I am forced to read about it, I'd avoid it like the plague. But since the only thing you are trying to grow is children...and using it under the swing set...I suppose it would be OK. But...that shizzle sounds like it isn't going to add to the overall health of your children. Tires have some bad a$$ stuff in them...even today.

Can't imagine how hot that soil can get under that stuff.

Sure Clam, You never told me that when we were changing those Blizzaks

They are allll yours if you want them, Are10. I can drop them of on my way up to Gus's UP palace one day.

Any rubber mulch in Wisco?

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:

Any rubber mulch in Wisco?

Are you kiddin' me? We still have people using rotary dial phones up here!

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
They are allll yours if you want them, Are10. I can drop them of on my way up to Gus's UP palace one day.

Any rubber mulch in Wisco?

I doubt it but you think the tires will fit the 47 jeep I picked up a couple of weeks ago ?

Here is an interesting link [ Rubber Mulch for playgrounds

Here is an interesting article from someone who sells real mulch....

Shouldn't this be under the "Astroturf-part deux" thread? Aren't ground up tires part of that equation?