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Let’s talk rubber mulch
Posted on 5/13/18 at 9:28 pm
Posted on 5/13/18 at 9:28 pm
About to put in flower beds for my new home, and was considering rubber mulch. Anyone have any experience with it? Pros/cons?
Posted on 5/13/18 at 9:31 pm to mach316
We use it on our playgrounds as a safety surface. Wayyyyyy better than the engineered wood mulch of the past. Holds its color, and doesn't float away or rot. I have to assume it would be superior in a flowered as well.
Posted on 5/13/18 at 9:31 pm to mach316
Cons: That shite is expensive.
Posted on 5/13/18 at 9:42 pm to mach316
It retains its color well but doesn't do anything a mulch is supposed to do : retain moisture, soil temp control and weed suppression. If that rubber crap gets into your lawn you will be picking it out for years.
Posted on 5/13/18 at 9:53 pm to mach316
I’ll split a truckload if u find it
Posted on 5/13/18 at 10:15 pm to wickowick
It is expensive, but I figured it may be cheaper in the long run because it wouldn’t have to be replaced every year like regular mulch.
My beds are isolated from my grass by a sidewalk, so that shouldn’t be an issue.
Appreciate the input. Keep em coming.
My beds are isolated from my grass by a sidewalk, so that shouldn’t be an issue.
Appreciate the input. Keep em coming.
Posted on 5/13/18 at 10:45 pm to mach316
I wouldnt. That shits forever dude, and once its mixed with dirt you gotta mess.
Posted on 5/13/18 at 10:58 pm to mach316
The best mulch serves as a soil amendment as it breaks down over time. I would consider rubber for unique situations but definitely not a flower bed.
What attracts you to it? Weed blockage? Color retention? You can get that other ways
What attracts you to it? Weed blockage? Color retention? You can get that other ways
Posted on 5/13/18 at 11:23 pm to Warrior Poet
The color is much more vivid imo. I’ve used regular mulch forever. Seems like after it gets rained on the first time, it just doesn’t look as good. Now I usually use black, but going with brown this time. Maybe that will help with color retention.
Posted on 5/14/18 at 6:20 am to mach316
I buy mine by the truck bed from a small local company. I find it much more vibrant and longer lasting. Much more finely ground.
The bag shite doesn't last. Got a truckload of sacks from Lowe's 3 years ago and they were full of termites. The bags I'm told often sit in a warehouse for quite a long time before they ever get shipped out. You can lose color there and they are half rotten when you get them. Ateast the ones from Lowe's have been.
The bag shite doesn't last. Got a truckload of sacks from Lowe's 3 years ago and they were full of termites. The bags I'm told often sit in a warehouse for quite a long time before they ever get shipped out. You can lose color there and they are half rotten when you get them. Ateast the ones from Lowe's have been.
Posted on 5/14/18 at 6:30 am to oleyeller
quote:
causes cancer
This is the answer
Posted on 5/14/18 at 6:40 am to mach316
Not worth it imo
I do exactly like thejudge says above. Buy very finely shredded mulch by the truckload locally. What I buy is technically not even mulch as it is a blend of premium shredded hardwood and composted materials. It looks very fine like dirt. I don’t worry nearly as much about color retention because it’s brown and the colors I’m interested in are the flowers I’ve planted not the dirt. It composts into the bed over time and improves plant health
I do exactly like thejudge says above. Buy very finely shredded mulch by the truckload locally. What I buy is technically not even mulch as it is a blend of premium shredded hardwood and composted materials. It looks very fine like dirt. I don’t worry nearly as much about color retention because it’s brown and the colors I’m interested in are the flowers I’ve planted not the dirt. It composts into the bed over time and improves plant health
This post was edited on 5/14/18 at 6:41 am
Posted on 5/14/18 at 7:11 am to mach316
Sorry but I ain’t putting ground up tires in my beds.
Posted on 5/14/18 at 8:04 am to mach316
Rubber has no place in flower beds. Go natural in nature. Give your beds something to enrich them - natural, compostable mulch.
Posted on 5/14/18 at 8:11 am to ynlvr
I'd never use it, but that's just me. The main reason being I like to change my flower beds around from time to time and dealing with all that rubber mulch would be a real PITA. At least with wood bark or some similar organic mulch you can incorporate it into the soil if it is sufficiently broken down when doing the work.
I have a lot of annuals I put in my flower beds in the front yard and at least once a year I'll turn the soil once the annuals die back and lay new weed blocking material, plant new plants and then mulch.
I have a lot of annuals I put in my flower beds in the front yard and at least once a year I'll turn the soil once the annuals die back and lay new weed blocking material, plant new plants and then mulch.
Posted on 5/14/18 at 8:16 am to mach316
Don't! I did ruber mulch a while back. I hate it! Initially it looks great but it's heavy and will sink into the soil. I've replace it in the front and getting ready to replace it in the yard. It's a bitch to remove too. A lot of expense and years later you'll be replacing it.
Posted on 5/14/18 at 8:22 am to mach316
We bought a pallet load for our school beds.
Pros:
1) The color is amazing and lasts.
2) It is cheaper by the truck load.
Cons:
1) You must use gardening paper beneath it.
2) It stinks.
3) It gets in the grass eventually
4) You have to hand pick out leaves and other yard waste that gets into it. If you use a blowers, it flies away.
In short, I would not do it again as a flower bed cover. However, underneath playground equipment, it is great.
Pros:
1) The color is amazing and lasts.
2) It is cheaper by the truck load.
Cons:
1) You must use gardening paper beneath it.
2) It stinks.
3) It gets in the grass eventually
4) You have to hand pick out leaves and other yard waste that gets into it. If you use a blowers, it flies away.
In short, I would not do it again as a flower bed cover. However, underneath playground equipment, it is great.
Posted on 5/14/18 at 8:45 am to CoachChappy
As others have mentioned real mulch by the truckload is the best way to go. Place near me has a dark brown cedar that is great. Holds it's color fairly well, but also keeps bug/termites out. Personally I like pine straw as well and I've had better luck blocking weeds with a thick layer of pine straw.
Posted on 5/14/18 at 9:24 am to GoldenSombrero
I wish I had access to pine straw up here. Sadly, I don’t.
Guess I’ll stick with regular mulch. I had heard about the smell epically when it gets hot. I don’t want my house smelling like a retread plant.
I’ll stay away from the Lowe’s/Home Depot bags this time. I will try buying by the truckload from a local nursery.
Thanks guys
Guess I’ll stick with regular mulch. I had heard about the smell epically when it gets hot. I don’t want my house smelling like a retread plant.
I’ll stay away from the Lowe’s/Home Depot bags this time. I will try buying by the truckload from a local nursery.
Thanks guys
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