There is evidently many benefits to gardening in tires, whether one or a stack of 'em. I am concerned, however about chemicals leaching into the soil. Does anyone have any thoughts about this? ~thanks~

-- Tammy~Gladheart Acres (heritage@mtaonline.net), October 17, 2000

Answers

I've wondered about this too. I hope someone has some information.

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), October 17, 2000.

I don't know in the book I bought by Paul Farber "Tire Recycling is Fun" in his section on general information and safety tips says"tires are not toxic I have found no evidence that anything undesirable will leach into the soil from a clean tire or steel rim." Now I don't what type or how in depth his research was and with a book like his it would not have been in his best interest to find anything that would indicate possible toxic problems with tires. However I would have to say that in todays world of liability issues he would be in trouble if he was hiding something. I think that he may be right as what I have heard of the big piles of tires that the main concern is the bugs breeding in the water in the tires and the fire hazard but have never heard of any problem of chemicals leaching from the tires.

I am interested in this topic as I did order that book and plan to use many of the projects in it as I have bad back and think put up the planters as shown in the book will allow me to have a garden this coming year. I also like the plans for using tires for retaining walls. I found this book in an add in countryside so hope this thread will give me no real reason not to use them.

One point he does make is that if you are using tires still on the rim to be sure to take the lead weights off the rims used for balanceing as they could lead to a high lead level.

Hope this helps good luck in what ever you decide.

gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef123@hotmail.com), October 17, 2000.

I agree with Gail. The only problems I have heard is mosquitoes breeding in them and a large pile of them is very hard to put out if it catches on fire. However, in some states if you have more than a certain number of used tires on your property you need a permit.

I would recommend gardening in 5-gallon plastic buckets over tires. They can be emptied to be refilled with better mulch and soil each year. They can be moved if needed. They are largely free. Watering isn't a problem. And they are easy to dispose of if necessary, unlike tires.

I get mine from a fire extinguisher service locally for $1.00 per bucket for nice clean buckets.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), October 17, 2000.

So far I am tire fan. I use stacks of three as composters (works better than any system I have tried thus far) and singles for heat loving plants (peppers, etc) and plants with special requirements (herbs etc). They also keep my smallest trees safe from my husband and his snipper and mower. (he has massacred young rose bushes and cherry trees!) I get my tires from a local garage for free.

-- Alison in NS (aproteau@istar.ca), October 18, 2000.

I've avoided tires for all the reasons stated -- better safe than sorry, and lately it seems that there is just too much 'sorry' out there. I did see something interesting in someone else's yard -- they have tomato plants in 5-gallon buckets and those put into an old shopping cart -- they just wheel them into the garage on frosty nights. I also got a gardening book from England in which the author is growing prize-winning produce in 55-gallon plastic barrels, cut in half and filled with good compost. He holds something like 17 UK records with produce he's grown. You can generally buy them used from places like soft drink bottlers for about $10-15. Maybe not perfect, but strikes me as safer...

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), October 18, 2000.