rubber tire gardens research?

queenb64 · May 17, 2006, 03:54:48 AM

I have been hearing alot about useing tires for raised beds. I live on a mountain of rock, so it attracted me. rows of tires 2 to three high, painted for looks and filled with good soil. Can arrange the however i like. BUT, I was concerned about the vegetable absorbing chemicals from the tires. I know that the ground up tires are very toxice. But what about solid tires?

TREBOR · May 17, 2006, 01:10:53 PM

I would rather use the rocks, they are nontoxic and look better....!
some people even buy them..... :shock:

Summerbee · May 17, 2006, 03:41:11 PM

Never heard of tires being toxic, makes sense though. In Florida you see a lot of tire mulch in gardens and even playgrounds :? If it is toxic that doesn't make sense, hmmm. I would use rocks.

TREBOR · May 17, 2006, 03:59:37 PM

Benjamin Franklin said it was better to use rocks........ :lol:

randydrivesabus · May 17, 2006, 06:56:59 PM

potatoes are well suited for growing in tires. instead of hilling up just add a tire. at harvest time just remove the tires.
i'm not completely sure of this but i think the toxicity from tires needs burning to be released.

Summerbee · May 18, 2006, 04:51:08 PM

Quote from: TREBORBenjamin Franklin said it was better to use rocks........ :lol:

Ha ha ha. :roll:

pallan · May 19, 2006, 12:43:21 AM

Hey,
I just put in several tons of ground tire material for our churches playground. I had to do a lot of research before purchase and installation. We found that ground tires have been rated as essentially NON-TOXIC! Use your tires and enjoy!!! We use them in our small garden as containers as well.
Blessings!

pallan · May 19, 2006, 12:55:53 AM

Well I learned something online just now...........It seems that it is the ground up tire material being used as mulch that may be a problem. Too much zinc can be a bad thing for plant growth. Still, it is being used everywhere with good results. Who knows!!!!!!!!!!! Using solid tires should not be a problem!! After all, they have been used for such a long time in the way you want. Someone always is an alarmist. For me to believe that there is a "serious" problem I would have to see more evidence.