Evenly distribute the rock and soil. It should be around 2 inches deep in all surface areas. Whenever the mulch is part of a playground, make sure to make it 6 inches deep in order to add an extra cushion in order the break children's falls more easily. Walkways or running tracks do not need to be this deep.
Even if you do not have a major weed problem, a weed barrier fabric can help keep your playground and freshly-installed rubber mulch clean and tidy. Pick a high quality weed barrier fabric and make sure you have fabric staples to help you secure it to the soil. This is a pretty quick process.
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.
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.
Mix loose playground rubber mulch with an aromatic binder at a 18% ratio. Meaning for every 100 pounds of rubber you will need 18 pounds of binder. Trowel the mix at the thickness desired. A common thickness for most residential application is 2 to 4 inches.
Get a Max hold for your black mulch, red rubber mulch, brown rubber mulch, or small landscape gravel rock. Our permanent mulch glue not only works on light and soft materials but also heavier varieties like gravel and pebbles (requires more glue application).
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.
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.
* 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.
Remove all sticks, rocks, and debris from the area where the mulch will be placed. Use a pick to soften the dirt, and use a shovel and a hose to evenly distribute the dirt. Dig at least 6 inches. The area must be flat and have a drop of roughly 1 inch for every 10 feet in order to secure the flow of water.
Most rubber mulches have a specific gravity greater than water hence they do not float or wash off as easily as some other materials like bark mulches. If the soil is healthy and full of microbes and earthworms ALL materials will settle and sink over time (remember Charles Darwin's work on earthworms).
We recommend a mixture ratio of 20% PU Binder to Rubber Mulch should be used. (20 kilos of Resin per 100 kilos of Rubber Mulch). Allow the material to mix for between 4-6 minutes per batch. This is important as reducing this mixing time will result in the surface taking much longer to set.
A place that landscape fabric is highly recommended is under non-decomposing products - such as river rock or rubber mulch. Those materials do not break down, therefore do not create a future problem. They actually help keep the landscape gravel from sinking into the soil and needing replenishment as often.
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.
Unlike wood mulch, rubber mulch used in landscaping doesn't attract termites, carpenter ants or other harmful wood destroying insects so it's the ideal mulch for use around buildings, foundations, and wood structures.
The best type of geofabric to use on a rubber mulch installation is a thick non-woven fabric. This is the same type that Rubberecycle stocks and has available to order. It feels similar to felt and allows water to permeate through it easily.
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.
SOFT LANDING RUBBER MULCH (SLRM)
So soft you can walk barefoot, and unlikely to cause injury if thrown. Rubber mulch makes backyard swingsets much safer because it does not absorb water or freeze like traditional mulch does.
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.
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.
There are two ways by which you can clean your rubber mulch, one is to use a leaf blower to clean out leaves or debris from your mulch. But if you are looking for a more thorough clean, we suggest washing your mulch. Sprinkle environment-friendly soap on the mulch covered area and spray with a hose.
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.
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.
We recommend aged hardwood mulch, applied in a light layer, around your flower beds. Well-aged wood mulch is an ideal choice for flower beds, as it adds nutrients to the soil as it decomposes. Softwood mulch, usually made from pine, can add a bit too much acidity, and doesn't decompose quickly.