Strategically placed landscaping and flowing ferns are beautiful additions to any home or property, but no garden grows on its own. As any gardener or landscaper knows, a well tended garden takes hours of work and effort. A big part of making sure your garden is healthy and thriving comes with proper mulching. Mulching helps with weed control, water retention, and to keep plant roots cool in the summer and warm in the winter. There are numerous types of mulching, good for various purposes.

The newest and most popular form of mulch is rubber mulch. Made of recycled rubber tires, it is good for permanent walkways, driveways, or playgrounds. Rubber mulch comes in many colors, and keeps the planet eco-friendly by giving a purpose to old tires that would otherwise end up in landfills. Rubber landscaping is less porous than the conventional wood chips, allowing water to flow straight down to the plants without absorbing any moisture. However, not too long ago there were those who feared that heavy metals from old tires could leach into the soil. This has been disproved, but there are still those who discourage the use of rubber mulch around plants.

Leaf mulch is made of leaves that have been allowed to rot over approximately a year. Leaf mulch is good for moisture retention, and has some important minerals. However, it is best when used in conjunction with compost. It is important to ensure that the leaves have been fully composted; putting chopped up leaves around plants will not benefit the plants in any way.

Alfalfa hay or pea straw are excellent sources of minerals, and are great for heavy feeding plants. When mixed into the soil they can improve the structure of the soil, and neither have the weed problem that regular hay has. However, this form of mulch should be used sparingly as it is expensive.

Bark and wood chips are great for decorative use, and as a soil covering. It is a good idea to place a layer of compost under the wood chips. Bark breaks down slowly and does not have to be replenished annually, but wood can easily rot, and with time it weathers to a grayish color. On a whole, wood chips are only good around mature plants. More and more gardening experts are using rubber mulch in place of wood chips.

There are numerous mulch options for many landscaping needs. It is important to research which option will best suit your garden.

It is safe to say that Hurricane Irene was one of the worst natural disasters to hit the northeast in years. States of Emergency were declared, and gas stations and supermarkets were emptied of flashlights, canned food, and the like. It may have been exciting to prepare for, but the aftermath left a path of destruction in its wake, with people left to repair, rebuild, and try to put their lives back together in these trying economic times. One of the many expenses that both private civilians and cities must take into account is restoring their play areas. On a whole, most playgrounds were not severely damaged, as the playground equipment is secured. However, flooring is a huge expense, and many areas were eroded, with their playground floors washed away. Some people were fortunate enough to escape this expense, by using rubber mulch.

Playground flooring is usually the last thing that people will put into their budget as a big expense, resorting to the most cost-effective solution. However, those who did invest in Playsafer rubber mulch are now reaping the rewards. The commonly used wood chips absorb water, and in a severe storm such as the one we’ve seen, can easily erode and get moldy. Rubber mulch, the playground flooring alternative, is synthetic and non-porous, allowing rain water to wash right over it. This feature is also beneficial when mulch is used for landscaping, as plants receive all the rainwater, as opposed to wood chips which absorb some of it on the way down.

Some playgrounds have playground rubber mats rather than rubber chips. This type of flooring has the same characteristics as rubber chips or shavings, allowing the ground to dry quickly, with no rotting. Playground mats are also very durable in the face of strong winds, and are secured well, allowing a place for children to roam free while the clean up commences.

Rubber mulch is also used in horse training arenas, where expenses are monumental. Horse farms are especially vulnerable to tropical storms such as Hurricane Irene, as all the structures are built from flimsy wood, from the fences to the paddocks and the barns. With so much rebuilding to be done, it is a relief to know that the flooring in the arena is safe. Rubber mulch is also especially important as the ground dries out quickly, making it safer for horses that would otherwise slip and slide on the wood.

At the time of purchase it may be hard to invest in rubber mulch, when there are more affordable options available. However, it is important to think about the future. In the event of a storm, and even under conventional circumstances, rubber mulch quickly pays for itself.

As society gets more progressive and forward thinking, eco-friendly products are everywhere, with people purchasing everything from environmentally conscious cleaning agents to organic foods. Now the go green movement is making a statement in the world of playground equipment.

Until now, the traditional playground was floored with either grass or a combination of natural landscaping and wood chips. Rubber mulch is the eco-friendly alternative to wood chips. Rubber mulch is made from worn out tires, giving a constructive use to something that would otherwise be thrown into landfills. The production of rubber mulch also saves literally tons of space in landfills. One cubic yard of rubber mulch can consume up to eighty tires, a significant amount. With landfills quickly being filled and no place to put the constant wastes that pour out of factories every day, it is vital to save space. Rubber mulch is one excellent way of doing that.

As with many environmentally conscious products, rubber mulch is more expensive than wood chips. However, it requires virtually no maintenance, and does not have to be replenished or replaced for years. Within a mere five years it pays itself out.

Aside for production, rubber mulch keeps on giving back to the environment when it is used for landscaping purposes, to surround plants. As a non porous substance, the mulch allows water to flow directly to the roots of the plants. Wood chips, on the other hand, absorb some of the water, so the plants end up with less. As to aesthetics, the rubber mulch of old was not pleasing to the eye, and gardeners were reluctant to use it. Today, however, synthetic mulch is manufactured in various assortments of shapes, sizes, and colors so landscapers can achieve the exact look they desire.

A large majority of playgrounds built today use rubber mulch as their flooring of choice, for the eco-friendly aspect, as well as the fact that rubber better absorbs that shock from a fall, and prevents injury in children.

For the green activists of the world who are constantly looking for ways to lead more eco friendly lives, rubber mulch is an excellent alternative that doesn’t detract from a fulfilling lifestyle. For now, the mulch is widely used in gardens and playgrounds, but the possibilities are endless. As a revolutionary new substance, rubber mulch may be the flooring of the future.

While newspaper drives still rank as the top fundraising activity, rubber drives help the environment and the recycled output can directly benefit the school.

Rubber drive

It is a great idea to introduce the idea of holding a rubber drive. The results are tangible things that the children can appreciate. You won’t have to force them to join your next rubber drive.

Have students collect as much recyclable rubber as they can: old tires, balled up rubber bands, and even old windshield wipers. Not only can this help clean out many garages, you also encourage them to help the environment.

The buzz that this new concept will create could encourage parents and alumni to get involved and learn more about rubber mulch. Below are 4 ways how rubber drives and its recycled output can help the school.

1. For the school playground

Rubber mulch is the safest playground flooring by far. Not only does it prevent injuries, it also keeps dirt levels low and it is definitely non-toxic. With different colors to choose from, you don’t have to invest so much in repainting the playground.

2. Gym flooring

Rubber mulch also makes great gym floorings. It does a wonderful job absorbing impact, reducing the occurrence of common sports injuries. Rubber mulch is also weatherproof. It allows you to save more compared with using wood or asphalt, which easily deteriorates when exposed to rain and cold.

3. Lab flooring

The laboratory is a magnet for accidents. Rubber mulch can reduce the number of broken equipment, which can help you save more of your budget. Also, rubber mulch can act as an insulator to absorb excess heat.

4. Landscaping

Landscaping doesn’t have to be expensive. There is a type of rubber mulch made especially for landscaping with different colors to choose from. Rubber mulch is a wiser option than the usual wood mulch because rubber doesn’t rot. It also keeps moisture in and lessens unnecessary soil erosion.

Most of the bridle paths around the area where I live, are all covered with stones and gravel, which to be honest is some of the cheapest, dirtiest and sharpest type of material to be put anywhere. I’ve seen this material being used on building sites, to be put in the footings of a building and nothing else, because that is all it is good for. I am also sure this happens all around the world.

The other thing that is used on some of the bridle paths, is wooden mulch. This is thought to be good for the environment around it and for the horses that are using on it, but we should all know by now that wooden mulch can be expensive to use and needs a great deal of cleaning from a horses foot. Also it can cause fungal infections, not just in the horses foot, but also in the plants near where it is laid.

Another problem with these bridle paths, is those idiots that like to tear up and down them on motorbikes and mountain bikes. The mountain bikes are not too bad, but the others spread all that has been laid, far and wide, which does not leave a great deal of covering left for what it was put there for the horses.

One thing that local authorities or private land owners could do, is lay down rubber mulch or even a recycled rubber compound. Personally I would use the rubber mulch granules, the horses will love the way it gives them a bit of extra bounce, the fact that they won’t fungal infections in their feet, from it and the riders and owners will see and feel the benefit. It does not hurt as much if you fall off either.

Motorbike riders will hate it, as riding on it is not an easy thing to do. We have all seen or heard of racing drivers and riders, having no control of their vehicle, because they have hit the rubber balls that come from their tires. Well rubber mulch kind of works in the same way, wheels just don’t seem to get on with it, so it’s ideal for keeping them pesky trial bikes and joy riders off of the bridle paths.

Another plus is that you don’t get that horrible smell that lingers in the air, from wooden mulch and even that nasty gravel, the rubber mulch will last longer and the horses’ joints are not being jolted as much, as they really do feel the extra spring in their step.

Looking around the town where I live the other day, I was surprised to see, or not see, as the case was, that there are very few places that actually sell rubber mulch and if they do sell it, they do not have enough in stock, to supply a sufficient amount.

This is only in shops in a small town though, when I started to look further from home, I found that the only places to find rubber mulch, were the larger garden centers. This was all well and good, but the prices where not at a competitive rate, they would not make any concessions for a large order and would not consider a discount of any sorts.

The wooden mulch on the other hand, was at a very competitive rate, is this because they can produce it at very little cost or because they will be selling you the same again, a while later. The recycled rubber mulch though, will last a hundred times longer and not cause fungal infections in your plants, so you end up back at the garden centre, buying more plants or something to stop the fungus, created by the product they sold you in the first place.

Another place I tried to buy rubber mulch was at a builders centre, this was another disappointment, but probably expected when I thought a bit more about it. I do think that with more people changing to rubber mulch, the builder centers are missing out on a lot of business. If they do pick up on this though, maybe the prices in the garden centers will become a bit more competitive.

Buying rubber mulch online is another way of getting hold of that elusive recycled wonder, for your garden. Online you will find better prices, but I found it even more hassle to actually get it.

So in conclusion even though the prices may not be that great, the garden centers are probably the closest places, with the most stock, that is readily available for you to buy your rubber mulch and have fun and a great looking garden.