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Yes, rubber mulch allows water to seep through and reach the soil underneath. Rubber mulch is not as absorbent as organic mulch, which allows the soil underneath to stay moist and hydrated. Keep in mind that the permeability of rubber mulch can get clogged by landscape fabric and other additional materials.

If you like the look of mulch in your plant beds, be aware that it can attract a variety of pests, including termites. To avoid wood-to-foundation contact, leave a one-foot barrier around your house and fill it in with rocks or gravel, starting mulch past that barrier and working it outward into your plant beds. 

The best mulches for trees are wood chips, bark nuggets, or pine straw. Depending on your goals, you may want to avoid using plastic, stone, rubber, or wet grass clippings. Plastic mulch prevents water from reaching the mulched areas of your tree, stones don’t offer any nutritional benefits to the soil, rubber can release byproducts into the soil when it decomposes, and wet grass clippings can lead to rot. 

Plastic may prove beneficial in cold climates in the winter, but wood chips are the ideal option for most environments.

A 40-pound bag of topsoil covers 0.76 cubic feet, enough for 4.5 square feet with a 2-inch depth or 36 square feet with a .25-inch depth, such as topdressing a standard garden bed. If you want 2 inches of fresh topsoil for your 36-square-foot garden bed, you’ll need eight 40-pound bags.