In article , "Frank Logullo"
wrote:

Peter wrote in message ...
Went to the local Home and Garden Show this weekend..... one product that
seemed to have value was "rubber mulch" which was manufactured out
of recycled tires.

Some reasons why I thought it would work a

Longevity - keeps its color for about 20 years. The material doesn't
break down.

About 5 times heavier than traditional mulch... I have a lot of leaves in
the fall plus
those stupid round spiky balls from sweet gum trees all year round.
Using a blower
on shredded hardwood, blows the mulch away. The sales literature
suggests
that yard cleanup will be a lot easier using the rubber mulch which stays
intact.

The rubber mulch does not absorb or transfer water between air and
ground...Water
soaks through the pieces of mulch and is kept in the ground. Less
watering, more
water available to the plants, less evaporation.

The rubber mulch is inorganic and will not attract insects and will not
provide a
home for slugs....both of which are a continuing problem. Which in turn
cuts down on the use of insecticide.

The area which I'm thinking of using this mulch is a plant bed in front of
the
house.... the area is 6' by 25'. The current plants are 3 China Girl
Hollies,
a full grown yew... rows of established Hostas, a few lillies and
daffodils
and a established fern. The bed is pretty well established, I'm not
planning
on adding any more plants to it, but will have to divide the hostas and
replenish the
bulbs.

So despite the fact that on a hot zone 8 day (temperatures of 105'),
the front yard
yard may smell like a car tire.... and that I will not be able to turn
over this bed
again....... Are there any downsides to using this product under these
circumstances??

The environmentalists, most of which do not know chemistry, will find fault
with the crap that's put in rubber and try to condemn it ;(
Frank

Which would include the USDA -- independent studies (as opposed to vendor
display "studies") have found that rubber mulch leaches sufficient zinc to
kill all of a garden's perennials & annuals & to damage shrubs. It is
unsafe to use anywhere near gardens. Period. But as a waste product
impossible to recycle into future tires, the only desire here is not good
landscaping & gardening practice, but good profits turning a waste product
into profits. Such ******s really don't care about the environment as long
as they can laugh on the way to the bank.

-paghat the ratgirl

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
See the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/