The Benefits of Using Mulch in Your Rose Garden
Article by Marc Nolan

What is mulch? By definition mulch is a mixture of straw, leaves, or other organic materials spread around or over a plant to enrich or insulate the soil. Many rose growing manuals highly recommend using mulch on your rose beds. Based on my own experience, I am also a proponent of using mulch as, among other things, it adds organic material to your soil. By volume a good soil for growing roses is composed of about 50% air and water, 4 - 6% organic material, and the remainder inorganic material which is composed of sand, silt, and clay in a 60%, 20%, and 20% ratio.

How does a good application of mulch benefit the growing of roses?

• Two to three inches of mulch will prevent moisture evaporation. Assuming your beds are well drained, the prevention of moisture loss is a tremendous benefit for water loving roses. Don't forget, the roots will not be able to absorb nutrient is the soil is dry.
• The mulch will moderate soil temperature fluctuations which will create an environment conducive to root development.
• The mulch is an excellent source of organic material which is essential to good soil structure.
• The mulch will control the growth of weeds and other undesirable plants. If weeds do show up, they are easily pulled up.
• The mulch will give your garden a neat appearance and will provide a back drop that will showcase your beautiful roses.

What are some of the more common mulches used around Central Indiana?

	Hardwood bark mulch is probably the most common mulch used in this area. This product comes in various grades, but the medium or fine grade is most useful to the rose gardener. I like the fine grade because it decomposes into the soil very easily. After a summer, the fine grade can be easily cultivated into the soil.
	Leaves are another excellent source for mulching your rose beds. Ground up leaves are better because the do not blow away and they decompose more rapidly. Air and water travel through shredded leaves better. Leaves will decompose faster than bark mulch.
	Peat or Sphagnum Moss can be used as mulch and it is rich in humus. Sometimes, it can be difficult to wet, but it retains moisture well once it is wet. By volume peat or sphagnum is probably the most expensive mulch you can use, but you could use it if you are growing roses in pots.
	There are other mulches that can be used, please use your imagination as any organic matter can be used. Compost is excellent mulch, but that is the subject of another article. Please remember that as mulch decomposes it uses up nitrogen in the process. You can off set this loss in nitrogen, by sprinkling slow release nitrogen such as Urea on your rose bed. Don't overdo it as you can burn your roses. Just a light sprinkling a few times a growing season.

 Grass clippings can be used, but they will decompose rapidly. Be careful about using clippings that have been treated with any kind of herbicide. You will probably have to replace the clippings several times during the year. Grass clippings on the rose beds are not as attractive as the hard wood bark mulch or the leaves. If you are mowing your lawn, grass clippings are cheap and readily available.

Editor's Note: For more information on avoiding using 'sour' or toxic mulch, please consult the article Beware of Sour Mulch from the Virginia Cooperative Extension. http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/envirohort/factsheets2/landsmaint/jul94pr5.html