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is it correct to use tarmac on soil for planting

debras

By Debras

United Kingdom

our gardener has broken up the tarmac path and used it on the flower borders. he said this is good for the plants and keeps weeds down. I am very sceptical as I think it is an easy way to dispose of the tarmac.




Answers

 

think i'm with you on that one deb, but there are some expert gardeners on here that may know different......steve

14 Feb, 2009

 

Debra,Tarmac is toxic and I imagine will kill your plants.

14 Feb, 2009

 

it is an easy way to dispose of tarmac , it aint any good for plants or as a mulch not even for ROAD edenrons.

14 Feb, 2009

 

Lethal stuff on borders, daft idea.

14 Feb, 2009

 

That's a big con to avoid taking it away! Cheek! You tell him. And get it off your flowerbeds pronto!!!!!

14 Feb, 2009

 

And this makes it unanimous (and fire the gardener).

14 Feb, 2009

 

definitely fire the gardener AFTER he has removed the tarmac or you will be left with job. if memory serves isnt tarmac and creosote chemically similar and creosote kills plants. actually havent seen creosote for sale for years now. probably why.

14 Feb, 2009

 

Creosote is now illegal to sell Seaburngirl, because of the high tar content which is toxic to plants and wildlife. And what does tarmac contain a lot of? Not very lol. There is a creosote substitute available for your fencing now.

John.

14 Feb, 2009

 

thankfully no fences to paint all hedging round 3 sides and a low brick wall at the front. hated the smell of it as a child.

still feel sorry for poor debras and her dilema.

14 Feb, 2009

 

Just thinking about how you would get rid of it - the toxicity might make it difficult. Might be as well to check your local authority's Waste & Recycling web pages for advice! What a situation!!

14 Feb, 2009

 

Good thinking Peter.

http://www.gardenlaw.co.uk/phpBB2/index.php

may have some guidance.

John.

14 Feb, 2009

 

Just to close a loop, I've had a look at John's suggested website using all the combinations of Dispose, Waste and Tarmac that I can come up with but no-go - very useful site though! One thing I would suggest is that you terminate your gardener's contract asap *and* report him to his boss, any organisation(s) he claims to be a member of and possibly Trading Standards - before he ruins anyone else's garden! This is simple, rank, incompetence! (Sorry, this sort of thing really winds me up!)

14 Feb, 2009

 

I would report him immediately. Do you have something like an environmental protection agency over there?? Get him back right away to clean up your yard properly. Cheeky devil.

15 Feb, 2009

 

He may be wrong with the asphalt but I understand his theory. When I prune my Moringa Oliferas, I pile all the cuttings around the roots. This keeps them cool in our hot climate and also holds the water when it rains. Around my banana tree, I have used a mosaic of broken pottery to do the same.

1 Feb, 2013

How do I say thanks?

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