Rubber will not become burning hot after long exposure to the summer sun. Unlike sand, rubber chippings can also be washed off keeping them clean and free from bacteria. It's virtually maintenance free and will last without compacting for many years of outdoor playground fun.
In hot, sunny weather, rubber mulch gets hot. Rubber mulch absorbs the heat of the sun. On a hot summer day, the mulch also gets hot — sometimes, uncomfortably so for children.
Heat: Rubber mulch can become hot in direct sunlight, making it a little uncomfortable for pets and children to walk or play on.
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 amount of surface area is greatly increased and all the new surfaces are freshly exposed allowing for maximum odors to be released.
Some people like to use rubber mulch because it doesn't need to be replaced as often as wood chips. Most manufacturers boast that their tire mulch lasts at least 10 years. Clearly, rubber mulch lasts much longer than organic mulches, but there's a tradeoff: Rubber mulch doesn't add organic matter to the soil.
Well, thankfully, we're here to alleviate those concerns. Rubber mulch will smell for two to three days after installation. It smells like a brand new pair of sneakers on the first day of school. After the two-three days, the scent goes away.
Rubber mulch is suspected of being toxic to plants, containing high levels of zinc which leaches into the soil, causing chlorosis. It also poses health concerns, as it releases heavy metals, plasticizers, and accelerators into the environment.
This guideline recommends that immediately over the hard surface there should be a 3- to 6-inch base layer of loose-fill (e.g., gravel for drainage). The next layer should be a Geotextile cloth. GroundSmart™ Rubber Mulch should be installed directly over this layer.
Rubber Mulch Is Not Healthy For Your Garden's Health
Rubber mulch isn't a healthy choice. Like everything else, it does break down, and when it does, it leaches a witch's brew of heavy metals and toxic chemicals into the soil and groundwater.
When using mulch in your landscape, there is no need for the use of artificial weed barrier such as plastic or landscape fabric. These materials do not work and are not weed barriers. They are only necessary under stone.
Rubber mulch provides excellent drainage for the soil and supplies great insulation against harsh weather. It also allows a higher degree of heat to be maintained in the soil as well as maintaining its moisture levels. Wood mulch, however, can starve plants.
Gravel mulch includes pea gravel, crushed stone and pebbles. Although both types of mulch can be used in the garden, rubber mulch is the preferred mulch for layering under outdoor play equipment and on athletic fields due to its softness and resiliency.
Great mulch options include grass clippings, straw, hay, or old leaves all of which can be combined with cardboard or newspaper. Water your garden consistently. Your watering schedule will obviously be unique to your garden but you sould work hard to maintain moist soil conditions.
Be Mindful of Heat Limits
Rubber and urethane offer a great heat barrier, but even these wonder products have their limits. Rubber is more likely to break down and melt in high temperatures. Because polyurethane is a thermosetting polymer, it burns rather than melts at high temperatures.
Mulch is made of wood and as the wood begins to decompose it produces heat. When mulch becomes too dry, the heat can build until a fire begins from spontaneous combustion. Dark mulch can heat more rapidly than lighter colored mulches. "Mulch catches on fire because the sun dries it out," said John McCartney.
* Rubber lets rain drain through better than compacted wood mulch and doesn't absorb much (if any) of that water. That means more water for plant roots.
How deep should my rubber mulch be? 1-2 inches depth is enough rubber mulch for landscaping and gardening needs. American Society for Testing Materials requires a depth of 3-6 inches to meet playground safety standards. This will sufficiently cushion falls from 6-12 feet.
Preparation. Level out the area to be re-surfaced as much as possible and fill in any dips and pot holes. Pull up any weeds and remove any “buried treasures” like crisp packets and bottles etc. Try and get the ground as smooth as possible, remove any protruding stones which may damage the landscape fabric.
The Environmental Protection Agency has studied rubber mulch and found it to be a safe material, posing no health hazards to pets or people.
While rubber mulch rings are easy to install and last for years, the bottom line is they're not the best for trees. Rubber mulch rings are less effective than natural mulch and can possibly hurt your tree. As the rubber breaks down over time, the rubber adds toxic contaminants into the soil.
You can safely use rubber mulch near your home's foundation or around outbuildings without worrying you'll end up with termites. In fact, rubber mulch helps protect your buildings from wood-eating pests, so you can use less pesticide.
Rubber Mulch Is Susceptible to Specific Fungi
For the most part, because it's inorganic and doesn't absorb water, rubber isn't susceptible to molds and fungi ... that is, except for species of brown rot and white rot fungus that attack the mulch's chemical additives.
Clean with white vinegar
Pull it out and rinse it down, allowing it to dry outside completely before use. The vinegar will reduce the odor, and drying in the outdoor air will further reduce the smell.