Rubber Mulch Vs Wood: Which Is Better? Flame Test, Pros/Cons
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- Опубликовано: 14 май 2024
- In this garden mulching video your host Jeff Ostroff helps to answer that old debate of rubber mulch versus wood mulch and which one is better? We also perform flame tests on different types of rubber mulch and wood mulch to see which one is the most flammable. We also give you an exhaustive list of the pros and cons of both rubber mulch and wood mulch. If you are mulching your garden you want to know that you are using the correct mulch for your scenario.
⏱ Table of Contents (Click on timestamps to jump to a chapter
0:00 Introduction to rubber mulch vs wood mulch
0:27 What expert researchers revealed about mulch flammability
1:05 Rubber mulch fire hazard flammable testing
2:15 Cypress mulch flammability testing
3:10 Pine Nuggets wood mulch fire hazard test
4:20 Summary of mulch flammability by Universities
5:27 Temperature testing of rubber mulch vs wood mulch in hot sun
6:58 Pros of rubber mulch
9:58 Cons of Rubber Mulch
11:56 Pros of wood mulch
13:21 Cons of Wood Mulch
16:48 Outro and channel description
Home Depot & Amazon (paid affiliate links) mentioned in this video:
🛒 Vigoro 0.8 cu. ft. Cedar Red Bagged Rubber Mulch: homedepot.sjv.io/RBKvN
🛒 Earthgro 1.5 cu. ft. Brown Mulch: homedepot.sjv.io/NK94aP
🛒 Earthgro 1.5 cu. ft. Red Mulch homedepot.sjv.io/MXAyeY
🛒 Earthgro 1.5 cu. ft. Black Mulch: homedepot.sjv.io/7maogV
🛒 2 cu. ft. Cypress Mulch Blend: homedepot.sjv.io/qnzZdq
🛒 2 cu. ft. Pine Bark Nuggets: homedepot.sjv.io/QOj419
Note: Some of the links we send you to are affiliate links which which if you click on them and buy something, we may receive a small affiliate commission. We appreciate you supporting our efforts to continue to bring you world class tool reviews, remodeling and repair videos, and shop with me videos looking for the best discount tool deals.
💻 As mentioned in video, read this article:
“The Combustibility of Landscape Mulches“ (Report compares rubber and wood mulch flammability)
naes.agnt.unr.edu/PMS/Pubs/15...
📺 WATCH: "Wood Mulch vs Rubber Mulch: 2 Big Lies They tell You!" • Wood Mulch vs Rubber M...
#jeffostroff #rubbermulch #mulching 
Хобби
Home Depot & Amazon (paid affiliate links) mentioned in this video:
🛒 Vigoro 0.8 cu. ft. Cedar Red Bagged Rubber Mulch: homedepot.sjv.io/RBKvN
🛒 Earthgro 1.5 cu. ft. Brown Mulch: homedepot.sjv.io/NK94aP
🛒 Earthgro 1.5 cu. ft. Red Mulch homedepot.sjv.io/MXAyeY
🛒 Earthgro 1.5 cu. ft. Black Mulch: homedepot.sjv.io/7maogV
🛒 2 cu. ft. Cypress Mulch Blend: homedepot.sjv.io/qnzZdq
🛒 2 cu. ft. Pine Bark Nuggets: homedepot.sjv.io/QOj419
Note: Some of the links we send you to are affiliate links which which if you click on them and buy something, we may receive a small affiliate commission. We appreciate you supporting our efforts to continue to bring you world class tool reviews, remodeling and repair videos, and shop with me videos looking for the best discount tool deals.
Great video , Always wondered about these questions
Glad to answer them for you!
Great content Jeff! This is a great subject to cover and one that I know a little bit about. I’ve spend a little time in the recycling business. Kind of grew up in it.
Growing up (15 years ago) from the time I was 10 to about 23, my dad had a small business recycling tires. It wasn’t a big operation, but there were a few years we handled around 100,000 tires. Most of these tires went to a facility that ground them up into mulch or even finer products to be remolded into other products.
Also, right about the time my dad was giving up the waste tire business, I went to work for a family friend who had a wood recycling company that needed somebody to run the day-day operation. I ran that place for a little over 4 years before I passed the torch to move on in my own endeavors. At least half of the wood that came in went right into the grinder to make landscaping mulch or sent to another place that would process it even farther to make wood pellets for burning.
I would like to make 1 thing perfectly clear. There is NO deforestation going on to make landscaping mulch! All wood materials used to make these products are used products that are recycled or scraps and/or leftovers that would otherwise be complete waste. But nobody is cutting down trees to make landscaping mulch! I just wanted to clarify that!
In fact, most of the wood for generic dyed mulch is recycled packing material. Boxes, crates, pallets, etc. it could be any kind of wood. With the amount of stuff that comes from Asian countries, it’s probably not even any type of wood that is even found in this country lol.
As far as chemicals and soil contaminants, there’s probably more in the generic wood mulch than from the rubber mulch. Glues, inks, paint, grease, foreign substances that got on the wood etc etc. the rubber is just from tires generally and they are generally pretty clean. Maybe even rinsed several times in processing.
Every material has it’s own pros and cons.
Wood rots! But that fault is also a feature. If you get it out in the yard and such, it’ll just rot away and turn to soil. Rubber never goes away. It doesn’t rot and it’s less dense than soil, so it doesn’t sink away like rocks will eventually.
Mulch is a great use for old rubber and it’s a great playground material, but man is it messy! It seems to end up everywhere and it doesn’t go away. If you don’t have kids and you’re putting it in an area that doesn’t see foot traffic, it’s great. Not that wood mulch isn’t just as messy in the same ways with the same variables, but it rots away, so it’s a temporary issue.
I’d be happy to answer any questions you have. I’m no expert, but I know more than the average guy about this subject.
Just know that there is NO deforestation going on to make landscaping mulch!
I can’t help but chuckle at those comments/statements a little bit, I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you, just the thought of it.
The simple economics of it don’t work out like that. The guy making the mulch has to get payed on both ends for it to pencil out. There’s a lot of variables. I will explain further for anyone that’s interested but I think I’ve went on long enough for one comment.
Just know that there is NO deforestation going on to make landscaping mulch!!!
Awesome, thanks for sharing Matthew
Besides being messy, is there any other downside to rubber mulch? I have an area (as you described) that doesn't see foot traffic and I'm just tired of replacing wood mulch twice a year. Because there's no traffic I don't think it would be messy in my application as I have a good border as well. Thinking hard on putting rubber mulch, appreciate your comment.
@@frankarango4071 only other down side is the fact that it doesn’t rot away. It’ll always be there. It works for you now, against you later.
@@matthewpeters85 I put rubber mulch in a flower bed with nothing else but weed liner, 2 yrs later I have 1/2 or less volume, as my rubber mulch has shrank into tiny pellets... is that normal, or has anyone else ever seen this?
I know the area I placed it is under full sun & hot for 3/4 of the day, so maybe that's a factor 🤷🏼♀️
@@leahrowe847 what you’re seeing is normal in full sun. It’s called dry rot. In full sun It’ll keep breaking up into smaller and smaller peices until it’s dust size particles. Keep in mind, it’s not becomes less material, just less volume. The smaller peices just pack together tighter. It will never become dirt like wood mulch does eventually. The smaller the peices get the easier it’s carried off. Either by wind and water, or by the bottom of people and animals feet.
I have been debating on new ground cover since the mulch we had was attracting so many bugs. Will definitely give rubber a try! Love this channel!! It has been so helpful while we are taking on our first renovation
Go for it! Thanks for watching our channel!
I believe you will like the rubber. I sure did when I put it in a bed several years ago and it really helped keep the weeds away and I didn't have to replenish it like wood.
Did it help with the bugs?
In depth. Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
This confirms what I said all along - rubber mulch all the way! Here in the Northeast, after the winter season, I used to dig up the wood mulch before adding a fresh base, and there would be white mold among the old wood mulch during the removal process. Not only that, but I had nest upon nest of triple bodied black ants among the wood mulch that lined the base of the pool. Ever since I converted to rubber mulch, those issues are non-existent, the color lasts for 12-years at a time, and no need to add more year after year. Cheers!
Thanks for the info Mike!
How long have you had your rubber mulch?
Any issues with shrinkage?
@@leahrowe847 2 years so far. There won't be any shrinkage because the rubber is like that of rubber tires. They will hold their form forever. Just like car tires won't shrink over the years, these rubber pieces act the same way
Is placing rubber mulch on the driveway dangerous during g 4th if July due to fireworks, probability of catching fire?
The landscape area in my front yard gets full sun, 6+ hrs./day in Fort Smith, AR. In this situation, would rubber mulch be a good idea? I've been reading a lot about areas with hot summers and the possibility of volatile organic compounds and heavy metal being leached into the soil.
I have walked on it in the summer in bare feet and have no problem. Experiment with one bag see how you like it.
Still buying pure Cypress. I did see Eucalyptus for decent pricing not too long ago, which I think is the future of wood mulch (for me) since it's quick growing and fairly useless for much else. For $2 a bag, Cypress is still my favorite. No dye! I thought your video was fair though and has good information.
Thanks for watching!
Im laying brown rubber mulch on an open are all by itself. Just to cover the dirt. But im worried if its flammable, say during fireworks season. Neighbors throw alot of fireworks and the debris land on my yard.
I have rubber mulch . I love it . I don’t have any weeds or bugs . The lizards love to crawl around it .i first used shredded but it blew out more with a small leaf blower so I dumped the nuggets on top . I used a shop vac to blow out the dried leaves and it doesn’t blow out my runner milch
I'm considering it because of the bugs. I hope it helps.
Team Rubber!
Thank you!
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!
Going rubber with playset for the extra safety from falls! Hope it doesn't get too hot for the kids.
I find it is not a lot hotter than wood
I actually go with both mulch. I have a brick house with siding and live in the south near the bay. We are proned to termites so I lay my black garden material down, put cedar mulch 2-3 inches from the house. I rather have the rubber mulch touching the house sides than the wood mulch. My main landscape (front of house), I layed rubber mulch all over for aesthetic reasons. This method is not cost effective but seems to work with retaining water. The only pain is that I have tons of leaves on the rubber mulch and getting it cleaned is annoying.
I blow them off when they dry
Just wonder if I can put landscaping fabrics then mulch on top, does this STOP weed growth
It helps a little, but most weeds in our area just grow from within the mulch, with no soil
The biggest problem is when dirt blows on TOP of the area -- then it is sitting on top of the fabric within the mulch, where light gets to it and creates a home for weed growth. You can't really stop the wind from blowing in some dirt over time.
I’ve been around the block with wood mulch, all cons are true. I’m going with black rubber mulch at the new Florida house. Mounding, rain wash out, bugs, color fades fast, and have to redo it within the year. Bye wood mulch
Yes, I could never figure out why the dye they use on the rubber mulch isn't used on the wood mulch
did you put landscape fabric under the rubber mulch ??
no I did not
@@jeffostroff is there any benefit to put fabric underneath or not?
I placed two layers of weed blocker 15 years ago and still have no weeds and the rubber mulch is longer lasting
@@raskew2 any shrinkage in your mulch?
I switched to shredded black rubber mulch...............this stuff is fantastic and looks so much better that the wood mulch.............will never go back. More expensive but well worth it.
I still have mostly my red rubber mulch from 2009, and still looks the same
If you spray the rubber mulch to control weeds does it ruin the colour?
I have found that virtually nothing will cause the color to fade even after 10 years ourmulch is still the same color
Does the rubber smell much in the heat all day?
From my experience no. It does smell a little when it's in the bag, but once you apply it you can't smell it.
Heeellloooo Jeff.
sup Sergio!
I just laid rubber mulch and it smells. Does the smell fade after time?
Yes usually within a few days you don't smell the rubber at all anymore
Be sure to like this video. !!!
Thanks all
How long have you used the rubber mulch and has it killed any of your plants??
It has not killed my plants, I have had a garden bed full of rubber mulch since 2009
@@jeffostroff does it have any shrinkage?
Is the lumber craze raising the price of wood mulch as well? 🤔
Yes, plus there were shortages, but pent up demand for remodeling, building fences, etc.
What about the chemicals in rubber mulch?
There are chemicals in them but it's not like we're dumping mass amounts of it like the love canal the actual toxic chemicals are so miniscule it's not like it's going to seep all the way down into the water supply
Oh! So you've wizened up about rubber mulch!
This does not mean that I have wise end up about the rubber mulch I still use the rubber mulch but I do ignore or is that it's more flammable than then the other mulches. Keep in mind any wood mulch will burn but if you live in one of those areas near You're the wildfires then you should not be using any type of mulch you should be using the lava rocks
Lol I think you missed a con for rubber mulch. Don't use it if your on well water, same reason you said for plants.