Anyone used the rubber mulch?

**frugalfranny** · 05-15-2010, 01:09 AM

Does anyone here have any experience with the rubber mulch that is out now?

How/where did you use it? Like it? How deep did you make it?

I have a dirt strip running down the side of my driveway that is impossible to have grass grow.........gets too hot next to the cement driveway........and has a circular 'curbed' flower bed on other side....so more cement!

Thought I might use some of that rubber mulch that is made of tires. I won't have anything growing there anyway but want to keep the weeds down and not have mud when I water.

My other alternative is river rock.........and I could get those out of my garden areas............lots of rock...but I am TIRED of looking at rock!!

**stinkbug** · 05-15-2010, 08:35 AM

I personally hate the look of that stuff because it looks so fake......but that's just me.

**baronmom** · 05-15-2010, 08:35 AM

I have often thought about trying that mulch. They say it is a little more expensive than regular mulch but of course it would last a lot longer. I would love to hear what anyone who has tried it likes it.

**frugalwarrior2** · 05-15-2010, 08:43 AM

Will chemicals from the tires leach into the soil and then the ground water. I know they say not to plant those stacker potatoes because of that.
I suppose it wouldn't attract bugs and need to be sprayed like reg. mulch. (Centipedes-yikes).

**frugalfranny** · 05-15-2010, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by baronmom

I have often thought about trying that mulch. They say it is a little more expensive than regular mulch but of course it would last a lot longer. I would love to hear what anyone who has tried it likes it.

I don't think I would use it on any plants...just because of what it is and I wouldn't want to lose any plants due to some mulch.

Looked at it at HD and they had two colors and said 'guarantee' no wires. It was about triple the cost of regular mulch but the bark mulch won't work in this area unless I used something to keep it off the driveway and I don't want to mess with installing that.....and those edgings break anyway.........which would happen when a car drove over it.

**mndtrp** · 05-16-2010, 10:04 PM

I wouldn't use rubber mulch. When it comes out of where it's supposed to be, and it will, it'll never break down. Most cities have a tree branch recycling program, grinding up dead branches into mulch.

**frugalfranny** · 05-17-2010, 02:23 AM

Originally Posted by mndtrp

I wouldn't use rubber mulch. When it comes out of where it's supposed to be, and it will, it'll never break down. Most cities have a tree branch recycling program, grinding up dead branches into mulch.

I am not looking for any sort of wood type mulch for the area I will be putting it into..........it will either be the rubber or rock........no plants will be in it. Wood decays and I don't want to be replacing it.

Info on the rubber mulch.........I still wouldn't use it around plants....no matter what they say.

Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog: Mulch Tests: Rubber stacks up well against wood