The benefits of using such mulch is that it keeps moisture in the ground won't absorb water or nutrients. Allows water and nutrients to permeate into the ground. It drastically impedes weed growth and reduces seed germination. Rubber mulch has no nutrients to support weed growth. It does not decay away, will not rot, mold, mildew decompose and it minimizes dust. No foul composting odors or fumes, does not smell, mat or melt from the sunâÂÂs heat. Does not sink into the ground as well as it will not attract insects, rodents or other pests.

As I stated in the Soil forum, "Before shredded tires were found to be something that could be sold as mulch they were considered to be a hazardous waste product and the soil under tire dumps was removed and taken to special landfills because of high levels of heavy metal contamination. Once it was found that people would pay for this waste product those concerns disappeared. Rubber will add nothing worthwhile to your soil.
The moist soil conditions might attract termites, whether the mulch is wood chips or rubber. Perhaps this article from Iowa State University might be of some help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Termites and mulches

Thank you Kim and Nelson...so what do you suggest I use then?

Nelson- what do you use? Have you used rubber mulch?

Thanks again!

Gosh, the few times that I've experienced rubber mulch, it smelled to high heaven! Truthfully, it's an environmental problem on many levels.

I have rubber in my beds and around my trees and I can't say a bad thing about it! I agree with everything that nelsoncastro mentioned about it. And yes, it does have a strong rubber smell to it while you're putting it down, but after a day or two, the smell is gone. And it might not have any nutritional benefit for the ground, but there's other ways to add that. And the best thing is, it doesn't fade or rot out like normal wood mulch does. So, no more replacing it every year.

That's the advantage of using such mulch in the garden..

I would strongly encourage you to read the article Kim linked. I'm assuming you have your house treated for termites on some regular basis, so as long as you don't put mulch up against the house, or the treatment doesn't really work, the use of an organic mulch should have no bearing regarding termites eating your house.

Gardening is all about building good soil, from which comes healthy, vigorous plants that don't need fertilizers. Otherwise one is just planting, from the plant down, not gardening from the ground up. Nothing wrong with that, but there is a difference. Building good soil takes a few years and is an ongoing process.

We used Rubber Mulch for landscaping around our house and have had a good experience so far (been a little over a year). Looks the same as it did originally, and as I mentioned in another thread or two, has no noticible smell.

I'd recommend it as a low-maintenance option. We chose it because of that and because our windy yard used to cause mulch to spread all over the place.

We bought some bags at Wal-Mart, though they seem to be out of it hear us. Does anyone have any ideas where I can find more in the Southwestern, PA/Eastern OH area?

Here is a link that might be useful: Rubber Mulch Store Find I used already.

Those that are not too concerned about the legacy they are leaving their children can use things such as rubber mulch and synthetic fertilizers and broad spectrum poisons to control the insect pests they will have along with the plant diseases those plants will have.
However, those of us that desire to leave the world we live in a better place for our children and grandchildren will forsake the use of those synthetics and do what we can to make the soil we have better then we found it growing plants that do not need poisons to protect them from insect pests and plant diseases that also do great harm to the beneficial insects we need to have the food we need to exist.