[AmandaLouise]

Hiya everyone


Does anyone use car tyres much on here?  Just wondered, as they would be ideal for me and I have seen some on some wasteland that are just lying about.

But I have read that they can leak out Cadmium which is posionous and hydrocarbons that can leach into the soil, I am not saying it is true though as I dont know, not had time to go into all that much yet.   Doesnt sound great when you read that so I just why then, on the other hand do very experienced gardeners use them.  I was considering them for squashes and courgettes because squashes need nearly a metre space for one plant and I wont manage to clear all but one of my beds this year of weeds.  so not sure I am going to have as much growing space as I first thought.

Many Thanks
Amanda

[PembsPanther]

I have no idea I am sure someone will be along soon enough to give you an answer but the thing that occurred  to me straight away is how they will look, pretty hideous don't you think? I certainly would not like a load of old tyres hanging around whatever they were being used for.

Hope you don't mind me saying.......

[teamspotty]

We use tyre stacks to grow potatoes above ground, under and around an apple tree to make the most of the space we have.

Tyres are mostly made out of volcanised rubber which is inert, however other chemicals are also added to the mix. What causes leeching is when water sits in the tyres, but if you have soil there is never any standing water so long as they are allowed to drain (we put a stack of tyres on a layer of bricks). Obviously disposing of tyres is a problem, so council run properties will forbid tyres on their plots as they don't want them left for someone to dispose of. I did ask on here the same question as you, and my feeling as pretty safe was concurred by someone else - however I think you need to make your own mind up.

If you want tyres, just go to any tyre replacement centre - they will give them away (as they have to pay for their disposal). I would do that than pick them up off of waste ground.

I think our tyre stacks look pretty neat - will take a photo....

[AmandaLouise]

I have no idea I am sure someone will be along soon enough to give you an answer but the thing that occurred  to me straight away is how they will look, pretty hideous don't you think? I certainly would not like a load of old tyres hanging around whatever they were being used for.

Hope you don't mind me saying.......

I dont mind you saying at all!  they might not look beautiful but only for the allotment, and when they have something growing they will be fine, dont be such a snob!!! Only joking but its not like they are going to be in my garden, call it the 'rustic look'!  They would fill a perfect spot I have that would be pretty much out of sight and if it frees up more space I dont care what it looks like.    I love looking at peoples homemade recycling inventions on the allotment, makes it unique.

So I will ponder this one, just not sure, Im only talking about 4 of them anyway.  I just need to ensure they are not going to infect the crops but they are a perfect growing container.  Other than that poundshop for some containers.

Cheers for replies.

[bazh]

Not sure about whether it's safe or not but I think it was Gavin that posts put some around his fruit bushes and I think it's a great idea, at the end of the day I'm sure statistically crossing the road is more dangerous.

[teamspotty]

Also consider supermarket crops - they have pesticides sprayed on them!

Earthing up is easy - you just add another tyre and fill...

[solway cropper]

I've grown my strawberries in old car tyres for the last three years. Don't worry about any chemical residues they might release. You'll get far more toxins in your body by spending half an hour in a city centre than you will from food grown in old tyres.