One of the things I like best about the shredded mulch that we use is that
it turns into rich, black dirt in a year or two. I have the deepest,
blackest and most fertile beds because of the compost action of the mulch.
Earthworm city -- they love it. Yes, it does mean that I have to put more
mulch on each year -- but that's maybe only an afternoon or two of work --
and what a great way to get nice soil!

I can't imagine the lava rock (or the rubber) being anywhere near as good.
Yes, it would last longer -- forever, I guess. But what a waste of
opportunity for making more fertile soil!

--
-- pelirojaroja
"dangerous redhead"
"Vox Humana" wrote in message
...
Maybe I don't get out much, but a few days ago I was browsing the garden
department at Lowe's and found some bags of rubber mulch. It was quite
expensive - around $10 for 2 cubic feet, as I recall. I found the idea
sort
of disturbing. I didn't bother to look at the bag, but I assume that the
mulch is made from old tires. The label touted the fact that you would
only
have to use this product once, unlike conventional mulch that has to be
applied every year or two. Someone use that pine nugget mulch on some of
the beds at my house and it never seems to disappear no matter how hard I
try to rid myself of it. I can't even imagine using rubber. What happens
when you need to plant something? It seems you would have to carefully
remove it if you wanted to improve the soil. Oh well, I guess it probably
isn't any worse than the red volcanic rock than the people up the street
use
around their shrubs - or is it?