Rubber mulch

[bobm]

Has anyone used rubber mulch ( like from Home depot ) for flower beds or kid's play area ? We have 2, 5 year old twin girls as well as 4 neighbor kids ages 3, 6, 9, and 11 that play in our back yard daily. What do you like or dislike about it ?

 

[Grampa Greenjeans]

I put that in the kids play area around a sandbox. Great stuff. Easy on the knees. Put a weed barrier under it and no more weeding there too.

 

[Zeedman]

The City where my son lives installed rubber mulch in the play area of the local park. I like it. Cleaner & safer than wood chips (no slivers) and better impact absorption than sand or organic mulches. Judging by its appearance so far, it looks like that rubber mulch will last quite a while too... so greatly reduced risk of injury, and relatively maintenance free (other than having to occasionally rake it back in from the surrounding area).

The only downside I can see is the risk to very small children, who may put the rubber pieces in their mouth.

 

[flowerbug]

hot

 

[Zeedman]

hot

Yes, I suppose it could be hot in full sun. The playground where I saw it was surrounded by trees & well shaded.

 

[Grampa Greenjeans]

Kids put everything in their mouths. They eventually learn not to. Mine all survived, LOL.

 

[ducks4you]

O M GOSH!!! Horse people have talked about/used it. My friend, who is part of an extended sheriff's patrol in FL showed me video of how flammable it is.
They were training their horses--you desensitize them to stimuli so that they won't panic in a hostile situations--in an arena with rubber mulch. Somebody lit a fire, for the training, as one does in such training, and the arena caught on fire!!!
Do you Really want to put this next to your house?
I am NOW thinking of light limestone gravel in my training area...bc it won't burn!!!

 

[Artichoke Lover]

It’s a softer landing surface than gravel or wood chips. No splinters. It will keep down weeds. It does get hot in the sun but not more than pavement or metal play ground equipment. Very small children may try to eat it but they would do the same with gravel or wood chips. It’s rubber so it is flammable, wood would be though perhaps not to the same extent. Gravel won’t burn obviously. I just wouldn’t put it near the house or a fire pit.

 

[Alasgun]

I’m surprised at no mention of the off gasing health concerns? Several school systems have since removed the stuff for this. Some of the football crowd as well.
Ground up Chinese tires isnt my idea of a quality product.

 

[Marie2020]

I’m surprised at no mention of the off gasing health concerns? Several school systems have since removed the stuff for this. Some of the football crowd as well.
Ground up Chinese tires isnt my idea of a quality product.

Tires wouldn't serve very well as plant surrounds then. Thank goodness I read these posts