Is Rubber Mulch Safe For Trees

Using rubber mulch is a controversial practice.

Is rubber mulch safe for trees. Rubber mulch might sound as aesthetically appealing as an artificial christmas tree but it does have a few selling points. Rubber mulches made from shredded tires are touted by manufacturers as permanent aesthetically pleasing and safe for flowers plants and pets. Give your garden that special glow unlike natural mulches rubber mulch doesn t decompose so it s sustainable it doesn t add any nasty organic matter to the soil the way bark and pine straw do. While zinc is naturally found in the soil a high concentration of this chemical element can be harmful to the soil and plans.

Specifically many homeowners ask if dyed mulch also called colored mulch is safe to handle when mulching plants or safe to use around food crops. The idea is that kids will bounce off of it when they fall down making it safer than other materials. Rubber mulch rings are less effective than natural mulch and can possibly hurt your tree. Rubber mulch promotes recycling and provides an excellent model for recycling all of those spent fuel rods piling up at nuclear plants.

Rubber mulch includes chemicals which can be very harmful to the plants and one of these chemicals is zinc zn. Contrary to popular belief both wood mulch and rubber mulch can contain chemicals. It can eliminate the need for annual mulching since rubber doesn t. It also boasts other good qualities prompting a spread in its use from play areas to the wider landscape including gardens but is it safe to use around plants.

Opponents of rubber mulch cite studies showing it is less effective in tree establishment or in controlling weeds compared with wood chips or natural fibers according to the washington state. Contains chemicals dangerous for plants. But the dye on colored mulch is less of an issue than the type of wood on which the dye is applied. As the rubber breaks down over time the rubber adds toxic contaminants into the soil.

Recycling old tires and keeping them out of landfills seems like an environmentally conscious practice. While rubber mulch rings are easy to install and last for years the bottom line is they re not the best for trees. It contains chemical residues which can be harmful to plants. Rubber mulch is commonly used for safety reasons in areas where children play.

Is rubber mulch safe to put on my garden beds. Rubber mulch is not organic so it does not decompose and will not provide the soil with organic material.