The application of mulch will help keep the soil moist during the hotter months.

However it is a good idea to use an open style organic mulch and not wood chips or forest waste blends.

Why is this?
Woodchips tend to soak up water before it reaches the soil and when your roses rely on being watered by a sprinkler system set to a 10 minute timer very little water actually reaches the root zone. Karri & peat style mulch is even worse as they tend to settle and become water repellant.

We recommend using either lucerne hay, pea straw, lawn clippings or our product, Glenvar Lupin Mulch.

If a wetter is required then we recommend Eco Soil Wetter which is a concentrated liquid made from an organic base that utilises microscopic humates. It works in a different way to granulated products and will last up to 3 months with one application.

As you have read, roses require a certain amount of attention, but the task is made a lot easier if you convert to the organic method using these simple easy steps as suggested in this article.

Remember that the best times to fertilise are in late winter or early spring then again in late summer or early autumn. Feeding mulches should go down in early spring and repeat applications annually.

All the products you require are readily available from our online store here and will be promptly despatched.