Rubber Tyre Mulch (forum)

Brendan starts with ...
Hi All,
Just came across this product in the latest ABC Gardening Australia magazine.

It's a mulch made form old tyres, and is supposed to be non-toxic and last for 25 years. Only problem I can see, I think it will burn like mad in a fire?

Here's the link: http://www.rubbermulchaustralia.com.au/rubber-mulch/gardening/

Time: 14th May 2010 8:44am

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amanda says...
Wouldn't do much in the way of improving your soil either? Wonder what it smells like on a really hot day or after the rain....
And and what happens after 25yrs?
Interesting idea - but the thought of using it makes me cringe somehow?

Time: 14th May 2010 9:34am

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About the Author amanda19
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Charles cant spell says...
While recycling is great and need to be encouraged, plastic/rubber mulch ?
Mulch enriches the soil, activates microbes and feeds bugs at the soil/mulch interface. Helpfully it also retains moisture, and smothers weeds however to me this is a secondary beneficial function. Primarily I see it adding organic matter (slow release fertlliser) to the soil.

Hence I would think of rubber mulch the same way I think of strappy leaved landscaping plants and decorative palms, they are greening the world and a step in the right direction but they are missing the point of ecosystem management and sustainability.

Maybe good for paths etc, but we have saw dust for this job, which breaks down and makes potting mix and compost over time. Yes its more work but how much organic material do you want to buy in because you are using tyre mulch to have a maintenance free mulch and tidy nice looking yard.

There is already enough tarmac, pavers, roads and houses on our soil already without putting more man made crap on top of it. But that's just my opinion :)
Save the types for potato towers, raised bed retaining walls and baby tree protectors as apposed to wasting more resources shredding them to make an non biodegradable waste product. Its a bit like dilution is the solution to polution.....cut it into small bits and bury it to make it go away. Anyway off my box.

Time: 14th May 2010 10:48am

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Original Post was last edited: 14th May 2010 10:51am

About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
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Brad says...
+1 for Charles

Time: 14th May 2010 10:58am

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speedy says...
It seems ok as softfall for kids playgrounds where you dont want to have council workers spraying weeds out.
The stuff I've seen sems to be coated or coloured in some way.
I haven't looked at it closely, so I don't know for sure.
The potential for heavy metal and other hydrocarbon pollution/ toxicity may be something to look at when considering useing it.

I think in the strictest terms, a mulch is just something to cover the soil to
prevent waterloss, over heating and loss of heat from the soil.
But I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree with CharlesCS in that feeding mulches are the go for gardens.
I dont like rubber and plastic rubbish crap in the soil.
I refuse to use plastic weedmat or sheetplastic on gardens for that very reason.

Time: 14th May 2010 3:04pm

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Charles cant spell says...
Good point, there is a excellent play area made of softfall at my kids school, while grass would be better, the soft fall is still hard enough for ball games so its really replacing tarmac areas at school which is a good thing.

Time: 14th May 2010 4:17pm

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BJ says...
The soft-fall play-ground cover has very strict Australian Standards it is supposed to comply with. It is really cool stuff, but cheap it is not (the low end of the spectrum is about $70/m2 and some is well over $200/m2. Although when you consider the commercial cost of maintaining grass and increased insurance costs because we all like to sue each other these days the soft fall rubber matting is very attractive for schools and child-care centers)! I cannot imagine anyone considering using it in a private setting.

I'm a big fan of natural mulch - WA sand needs all the help it can get!

Time: 14th May 2010 5:17pm

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amanda says...
Eww..I just saw it in the magazine...it's ugly! But I have a 300m gravel driveway - it might be a better option for that?! Maybe no corrugations anymore - yay.



Time: 14th May 2010 7:13pm

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John Mc says...
I don t think they had in mind mulching garden beds somehow. It looks like it would be used as a groud cover around playareas for kids or whatever.
Anyway, I have a very large driveway too. If we haven t had rain for a while it gets very dusty. This looks like the answer for dusty dry driveways allright. The particles are jagged so they would interlock well when driven over. @ $400 per cubic metre? bit on the expensive side. I d like to try some in my driveway though.

Time: 17th May 2010 10:19pm

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Original Post was last edited: 17th May 2010 10:30pm

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amanda says...
Wow John Mc! that's just a trailer load for 400 bucks...are they serious?. Why does it seem that anything "recycled" is so expensive? (a bit like when u attach the words: wedding, marine and medical = triple the price instantly!!??)

Time: 17th May 2010 10:47pm

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Deano says...
Hey guys,

Rubber mulch is a great product in every way and all you tree huggers need to pull your head out of your DARKNESS.

The BIG 'O'

Time: 7th June 2010 7:28pm

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About the Author Deano
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M Nash says...
Jay Mc,
Cracka dust mate. $400 gets you a whole lot more then a cubic metre.

Time: 7th June 2010 9:56pm

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About the Author MNash1
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M Nash says...
Deano,
I dislike greenies and tree huggers more than anyone I know, Because they are running the country down for the sake of an Ideal and they are on the fighting side of me,,No doubt.
But,
If you are seriously wanting to grow stuff well, Rubber reco mulch is the last thing id be investing in.
Its only good for suppressing weed.
or stopping kids heads being split open at play gounds.


Time: 7th June 2010 10:09pm

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About the Author MNash1
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virginny says...
Yea, me too. Them greenies are scum . If I wasn't on medication I'd be out there fighting with yous.Keep up the good work Nashy . Why look after the planet for the next generation ? What have they done for us,hey?

Time: 8th June 2010 8:33am

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BJ says...
Maybe we should just mulch the greenies?

Time: 8th June 2010 11:26am

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About the Author Theposterformerlyknownas
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virginny says...
Yeah, string up all them guys who have passed high school. we don't need them intellectuals, right?

Time: 8th June 2010 3:59pm

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M Nash says...
Hey, Settle down Virginny. I was replying to another person.
I guess I'm now replying to you, For some reason I gathered this to be a forum about growing fruit trees,,, Who'd have thought? (Roll eyes)
And if graduating high school makes you an Intellectual,, Well God help us all.
It takes a real life to become a real man or woman and weigh up the possibility of calling yourself as an expert in the virtue of being above others on a FRUIT GROWING site (roll eyes again) I cant help you with your other issues.
Be good to your mum and dad or carer (wink)

Time: 8th June 2010 10:13pm

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virginny says...
Right on ,Nashy. Who'd have thought we can sit at the feet of a real life country philosopher . Wonderful choice of phrases ,incisive summing up of life experience . Pls . share some more of your thoughts on greenies and "running down the country " As you cleverly pointed out this is a site about fruit and I'd love to hear more from a genuine fruitcake.

Time: 9th June 2010 9:25am

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