Easy Recipes From The Garden

If you’ve been to your local big box home improvement store lately, you’ve probably seen a curious item in with the cypress and other mulches — rubber mulch. This product is made up of ground tire waste, and is supposed to be beneficial for soil moisture due to its non-porous nature. It is also said to reduce fungal growth can be a weed barrier, as weed seeds dehydrate in the mulch before reaching the soil.

The tires’ springiness make it a good fit for playground equipment areas.

However, the material is also a hazard if ignited — and can be difficult to put out. It may also leach chemicals that can be hazardous to your plants — and possibly you if you’re growing fruits and vegetables in it.

My verdict? I like to go natural and organic whenever possible, including in my garden. I will stick with organic materials as mulch — natural, renewable resources and chopped up garden waste. Fall leaves make an excellent mulch to get flower beds and other areas through the somewhat harsh winters in my climate, and best of all — it’s free!