There is some evidence that mulch from hardwood trees native to your area aids in disease suppression.<\/strong><\/p>\nThe best time to apply a fresh layer of mulch is right after you prune.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Because the roses are trimmed back and you can get in there without getting scratched up!<\/p>\n
You may have heard, or read, somewhere that you should remove old mulch.\u00a0\u00a0 We advise against that and here is why.\u00a0 Fresh hardwood mulch needs nitrogen to break down.\u00a0 It takes that nitrogen from the air and from the soil beneath it.\u00a0 Therefor a layer of fresh mulch laid directly on bare soil will take nitrogen from your roses and we don’t want that.<\/p>\n
Once mulch has aged, however, the reverse happens.\u00a0 It releases nitrogen.\u00a0 For this reason that layer of year old mulch is an important “nitrogen releasing barrier” between your roses and the fresh mulch you just put on.\u00a0 That layer releases nitrogen both down into the soil for your plants and up into the fresh mulch to help it break down and become next year’s nitrogen releasing layer.<\/p>\n
Never take out old mulch but leave it in to provide nitrogen to the plants and the fresh mulch.<\/strong><\/p>\nLayer your mulch to about two inches and check on it during the season.\u00a0 If it gets a little thin add some more – particularly when the weather starts to get hot.<\/p>\n
Mulching also enriches your soil over time.\u00a0 Think of a forest floor that is constantly absorbing decomposing leaves and fallen trees.\u00a0 That decomposing organic matter is what makes a forest floor one of the richest soil environments we have.\u00a0 Steady mulching will do the same for your garden.<\/p>\n
Here are few rules of thumb:<\/p>\n
\n- Use a hardwood mulch from trees native to your area.<\/li>\n
- Never remove old mulch.\u00a0\u00a0 Leave it in to “feed” your plants and the new mulch.<\/li>\n
- Mulch after pruning to about two inches and add as needed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
For further information:<\/p>\n
Check out this video.<\/p>\n