Has anyone ever tried the recycled tire edging that I get so many advertisements about? It sure sounds great, if it works and 'Gardeners Supply'is selling it. It would be a lifesaver if it really works. ANYONE?

Not very many years ago anytime you found a used tire dump it was classified as a Hazardous Waste site and after the tires were removed a large amount of soil was also because of heavy metal, such as Cadmium and Lead, contamination. Suddenly someone figured out how to shred tires for use as mulch, landscape barriers, soaker hoses, etc. and the references about the heavy metal contamination of soils has disappeared from the internet, poof they are gone. However, today if a large number of tires are found (tire dumps are being discovered all the time) the EPA is called, the soil under the tires is tested and removed to a Hazardous Waste site because of heavy metal contamination. The New York Times had a stroy not too long ago about the artificial turf being put on play grounds around New York that tests on the children playing on those showed elevated levels of carcinogens in those kids urine after playing. So the question is is this what you want to put in your soil potentially contaminating it.

You make a good point, KimmSr, but would a reputable company such as 'Gardeners' Supply' sell such a product,knowing such information?

They have that information and they should know better, but "if we don't sell it someone else will adn we will not make money on it" seems to predominate our market place today. Whether it is right to sell a product or not apparently means little.

thanks for the heads-up, kimm. so, is this what the new rubber mulches are made from? i'm not interested in using them (i go organic) but it certainly is a good point. 5-10 yrs from now we'll be hearing how bad this stuff is.

All rubber "mulches", many of the artificial turfs (several schools around here are looking at using this stuff to save money), and soaker hoses are all made of recycled tires.