Is Rubber Mulch Safe For Vegetable Gardens

Rubber mulches made from shredded tires are touted by manufacturers as permanent aesthetically pleasing and safe for flowers plants and pets.

Is rubber mulch safe for vegetable gardens.

Certain vegetables like tomatoes and peppers benefit from the soil. It suppresses weeds holds in moisture modifies soil temperature lessens the chances of certain diseases attacking your plants and adds an attractive look to your garden. The idea is that kids will bounce off of it when they fall down making it safer than other materials. The rubber mulch is appealing to some gardeners because it doesn t rot maintains very well the humidity in the soil doesn t attract insects and requires less maintenance.

Rubber mulches are advertised as permanent effective and safe materials for use in landscapes and gardens. Can produce injuries remnants of steel strands can sometimes remain in the rubber mulch processed from the recycled tires. Rubber mulch didn t start out as a gardening product. Rubber mulch is commonly used for safety reasons in areas where children play.

Conversely plastic gravel and shredded rubber tires are all inorganic mulches that remain in place until you move them. Because rubber does not absorb water rubber mulch can actually help prevent fungal growth in plants. It found its niche as a bouncy soft surface for children s playgrounds. Rubber mulch is not only toxic for your plants but will also give your garden an artificial look.

Companies assert that the mulch material is an. It also boasts other good qualities prompting a spread in its use from play areas to the wider landscape including gardens. To be on the safe side i would not use their mulch on your vegetable garden. They will give you information about fertility ph and nutrient levels.

This mulch type is very often used for kids playgrounds and landscaping projects but there are even people that use the rubber mulch in their vegetable gardens. Yes research showed that if a kid fell onto rubber mulch from six feet up on a jungle gym he was less likely to be injured than if he fell on rocks concrete broken glass or sharp steel spikes. Research and extension center responds. The shredded rubber tire nuggets are non porous so water and fertilizer passes through it down to the soil it rests on.