Mulching Roses

Roses are especially happy to get a layer of mulch around their roots in the fall but wait until a first frost has hit to layer on more than six inches of mulch. This way the rose plants can “feel” the cold of the first frost and slide into a winter dormant state in late fall. Once a rose plant has gone dormant, the mulch will protect them from the heaving and thawing action of the soil in winter. Rose plants are often damaged when frozen soil begins to thaw and crack. If the soil is left bare, the freezing and thawing can push plant roots right out of the soil. Winter mulch around your rose plants can save their lives.

More Mulch, Less Mud

There is one more reason to give your garden the gift of mulch this fall: less mud. A covering of mulch on top of the soil will absorb excess water. A mulch will not only make your garden look better as it sleeps through winter, but with less mud being tracked indoors the inside of your home will benefit as well.