From our experience we have found that children and pets do not eat rubber mulch or have the urge to eat rubber mulch similar to how they do not eat wood mulch.
Yes, rubber mulch is a safe product. It's safe to use on playgrounds and in the garden. Numerous government and independent studies have been conducted on the safety of recycled rubber tire material. View safety research The EPA also recommends rubber mulch as an environmentally safe ground cover and playground surface.
This depends on the quality of the rubber mulch. Good quality rubber mulch uses a high quality color coating that is designed to withstand the elements like a good house paint. It is engineered as an outdoor product to withstand both hot and cold weather along with sun exposure.
It will stay put even in windy and rainy weather. Leaves and twigs can be easily removed with a blower or rake.
To prolong the life and maintain proper depth of rubber mulch, it is suggested to use a landscape fabric underneath so the rubber mulch will not settle in to the sublayer below and mix with dirt. If desired the rubber mulch can also be periodically raked over for a quick refresh as it will bring unexposed nuggets to the surface and also un-compact any settled mulch.
Landscape fabric or weed barrier fabric is not required but is often recommended as an underlayment for rubber mulch for several reasons. First it provides another layer of protection against weed growth. Second, it helps to keep the rubber mulch from settling in to and mixing with any dirt underneath. This helps maintain rubber mulch that is clean and at the proper depth. Landscape fabric is recommended for both landscape and playground applications.
