At some point, many homeowners have to deal with the frustrating task of fixing the mistakes of their houses’ previous owners. And for one such homeowner, that meant navigating some seemingly indestructible .
The homeowner took to the subreddit to ask for on dealing with this landscaping .
“Two of the (large!!!) flower beds are landscaped with rubber mulch. I hate it,” they . “But I’m also dreading removing it … Now I’m excited about the idea of planting native flowers for in that area, but need to remove the mulch first. How do I get all the pieces? … Can I remove the mulch without harming the daffodils?”
Commenters were empathetic.
“I’ve got an allotment which is scattered with the stuff! Furious about it,” one .
Rubber mulch is controversial for many reasons. It’s generally made from , which are often painted. But while tires is a worthy pursuit, putting those rubber chunks where they provide daily to plants, animals, and is dangerous.
One commenter that rubber mulch “leaches heavy metals and contaminants into the soil” as it breaks down — or — over time.
It’s true; La Voz magazine that the Environmental Protection Agency found there are more than in tires, and over half of those have been identified as , per the Yale School of Public Health. Over time, the rubber mulch releases those toxins into the air, the soil, and the surrounding water.
“I feel ya… the house I’m in has it everywhere,” one commenter . “I’m not a fan of it either, I removed it from the backyard to have a vegetable garden … [because] I don’t like the idea of eating anything from there.”
And if this homeowner needed any more incentive to clean up and safely dispose of their rubber mulch, it’s also highly .
Instead, homeowners are safer using a , such as homemade , , or straw for their garden beds. This is particularly important if you’re planning on , but it’s a cost-effective way to create any sort of .
Like this homeowner, gardeners are , because of the ease and affordability of . And not only are or partial lawn replacements safe and non-carcinogenic — they actually make the air around them , support , and require less maintenance. Now that’s a win all around.
“I would probably wait until the daffodils start dying back in the fall and just dig everything up,” another commenter the original poster. “Get all of the rubber out even if you have to take some dirt with it. Replace with good dirt and with replant the bulbs then or next spring.”
Join our for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet.
