Alt to Mulch

Hi All, We have a few large tree and shrub beds, just wondering if anyone has any alternatives to mulching these areas?

Thanks

Gerry

Gerry,
It's probably a day short, but how about renting a mulcher and gather up or set up a drop for old Xmas trees.

Also, with little effort and some supervision a community compost dump might be considered. Not a garbage dump, but a drop off enclosed loosely area for vegatation dumping. Get a good one started (check internet for how) and you can create some powerful mulch.

I probably should also say that I'm looking for what's best from a long term perspective as well.

Robert, I like your idea, especially since our state as instituted a ban on yardwaste in general trash collections. But, I'm not sure if I could get the majority of the community to buy-in.

Gerry,

I'm in Florida so this may not be relevant but our city in NE Florida there is a site you can go to and I believe the mulch is free tho you must truck it away.

I would wonder if you don't have too much are needing to be mulched if that represents 25% of your landscape budget.

Not knowing your situation, I would say to look for some sort of living ground cover to take the place of your mulch. In this area, most people use mulch area for one or two reasons:

1. To cover the ground while something grows in.


2. For accent reasons.

Kirk,

Yes, a lot of people in the community do believe we have too many or too large of areas with mulch. Ground cover is a good idea, but I'm not a landscaper or gardner. Any Ideas or recommendations?

Ellen, Yes our county does the same thing but I don't believe many in our community would agree to use that since "it's not pretty".

Good post Ellen!

Two words: Rubber mulch

Only have to buy it one time.

Gerry

Contact the Sussex County Cooperative Extension & Research

Elbert N. and Ann V. Carvel
Research and Education Center
University of Delaware
16483 County Seat Highway
Georgetown, Del. 19947-9575

Research and Education Center
(302) 856-7303
302-856-2585
(302) 856-1845 Fax

I've never used it, so I can't say, but I can't argue with a master gardener.

Donna is correct. We had ONE condo owner remove his rubber mulch; after doing research on the subject. We wanted to decorate with regular mulch and would not put it on top of that garbage.

Robert,
That is great stuff and is not harmful to the soil as it decomposes as they all will do. Just don't use it if it is made of pure plastic.

Steve,

FYI on Rubber Mulch--from studies Sorry for the length but I have more if this doesn't get you thinking.

Research at Texas A&M University found that the particles from shredded brush (i.e. native
mulch) would physically lock together preventing erosion even in extreme weather events.
Researchers have also found that during decomposition that bacteria produce chemicals
called polysaccharides that act as glue to help hold the particles together. The hyphae from
many fungus species also help to lock the particles together and to the soil surface. As a
result, the native mulch and compost resisted erosion (floating or blowing off) better than
any other material tested.
Doesn’t decay away, Lasts many years
Rubber mulch is broken down by microbes like any other product (remember microbes can
break down granite rocks into soil), rubber is easy by comparison. The rubber encourages
species of bacteria that break down rubber and rubber like products in your home to
multiply. The additives in tires to prevent bacteria decay (which are toxic chemicals) are
broken down by white and brown rot fungal species that live in soil. This same
decomposition is what releases the toxic chemicals in tires.
Doesn’t feed house insects
This is a true statement, I do not know of anything that eats tires except microbes.
However, the tire mulch does kill many species of good microbes that kill insects and
prevent disease. The toxic chemicals in the tires will also kill beneficial insects that help
control pests.
Doesn’t smell, mat or mold
This may be a matter of opinion, but most people find that rubber mulch starts to stink as it
gets hotter. On a hot day it has a strong stench. As tires are ground up into chips the
www.natureswayresources.com
3
amount of surface area is greatly increased and all the new surfaces are freshly exposed
allowing for maximum odors to be released. Many people get sick from just being in the
sales area of a store selling new tires.
As rubber mulch heats up, it releases toxic gases such as volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) and another class of chemicals called polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These
gases have been found to cause irritation of the nasal and respiratory passages, central
nervous system damage, depression, headaches, nausea, dizziness, eye and kidney damage,
and dermatitis. Hence, ground tires should never be used in an enclosed area or indoors.
These effects would be even worse in areas of high air pollution (i.e. Houston).
It is true that rubber mulch will not mat down as easily as organic mulches, since the
beneficial microbes that create soil structure, prevent insect and disease problems, cannot
live in it.
As to mold, I have seen many tires used on piers and boat docks covered with algae. I have
also seen tires used as planters covered with what appears to be mildew and mold. Mildew
and mold will grow on about any surface if moisture is present, unless it is too toxic and
something kills them.
Impedes weed growth
In comparison studies of several mulch types in herbaceous perennials, rubber tire mulch
was less effective than even raw wood chips. Other studies have found that even sawdust
worked better and have found rubber mulch less effective than straw and other fibers.
Several studies have found that rubber tire mulches kill many species of plants hence the
public relation specialist spin it off as “retards or impedes weed growth”. Who wanted
flowers in the first place?
Also as temperatures rises the type of plants that will survive is reduced and rubber mulch
can get fairly hot (see below). Metal toxicity also reduces the type of plants that can live and
grow in rubber mulch (see below).
www.natureswayresources.com
4
Water and nutrients permeate
Some researchers have found that ground up tires can absorb chemicals from fertilizers and
pesticides preventing them from leaching into ground water. Hence, fewer nutrients reach
the plants. Eventually, the tire chips will degrade and the stored chemicals will be released
most likely at time when one does not want or need them.
Water will run through the tire mulch as it is highly permeable. However, the problem
begins when the water reaches the surface of the soil. Earthworms and soil microbes create
soil structure allowing air and water to enter the soil. Earthworms and microbes require
decomposing organic matter as a food and energy source. Without this food source most of
the earthworms and microbes will die off and the soil structure will collapse over time.
When this happens, the soils will become anaerobic (favors root pathogens) and water and
air cannot enter easily. Hence, conditions may be created that favor disease and since the
water can no longer be absorbed, it must run off.
Safe for flowers, plants and pets
Research at Bucknell University has found that the leachate from ground tires can kill entire
aquatic communities of algae, zooplankton, snails and fish. Even at low concentrations it
can cause reproductive problems and precancerous lesions. Also, marine life from seaweeds
to plankton is negatively affected.
The toxic nature of the leachate from tire rubber is due at least in part to the chemicals used
in producing tires (cadmium, chromium, aluminum, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum,
selenium, sulfur, and zinc). Of these minerals, rubber tires may contain extremely high
levels of zinc even up to 2% of the tire mass. Many plant species have been shown to
accumulate zinc in their tissues to the point of death. USDA researchers who have studied
the effects of metals in sewage sludge, biosolids and compost, have found that ground rubber
should not be used on any agricultural or garden soil, potting media, or compost. Yes- some
companies use tire chips and crumb rubber as a bulking agent for compost and we wonder
why the compost does not work and is toxic to plants!
Other rubber leachates have been found to cause problems from skin and eye irritation to
www.natureswayresources.com
5
major organ damage and even death. Long term exposure can lead to carcinogenesis and
mutagenesis. For example, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole used in vulcanizing rubber is highly
persistent in the environment and harmful to aquatic life. Ground rubber also contains a
class of chemicals called Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that many studies have found
extremely toxic to humans and the environment.
Research has also found that the toxicity of leachate from the rubber tire mulch increases
over time as the rubber breaks down.
Improves landscaping
I am not sure what is meant by this claim. Consumer Reports Magazine found that some of
the rubber mulches tested faded during the tests. Personally, I do not like the bleached out
look.
The USDA Agricultural Research Service, after over 20 years of research concludes that on
the zinc factor alone, ground or chipped tire material should never be used in gardens or
landscaping.
How can a material that kills many types of plants be classified as “Improves Landscaping”
unless one likes a barren and sterile yard.
fairly quickly

Steve,
You are welcome. I'm just trying to save YOU and the environment ;)