What do you recommend as a good mulch for roses?

I am putting in a Simplicity Rose hedge and would like to add a mulch, preferably bark. I have a gardening friend who is adamant about NOT using bark around rose bushes. Any input or comments?

What do you recommend as a good mulch for roses?
Actually, a mulch is simply a protective covering, used to: keep the weeds down, prevent the freezing of roots, and keep the moisture from evaporating.--Very important for your roses. I think that the reason that your friend is suggesting against the bark mulch, is that as it initially breaks down, it extracts nitrogen from your soil. -- But with a Cedar mulch, this breakdown is very minimal, and gradual.-Buy the Cedar mulch. Bugs hate it, it lasts longer, and is smells wonderfull.Althugh it is usually more expensive,that's what im using for my 42 knockouts that i just planted. I feel that coco bean mulches are a gimmic, and are a well overpriced by-product.Cheers-chris
Reply:Pine needles.
Reply:Roses like rich feed - horse manure (don't use cow) or garden compost, wood ash, bone meal.





You can buy good compost material which will both feed and mulch.





Trouble with bark is that all it does is suppress weeds, it does nothing for the rose.
Reply:Check into the recycled rubber mulches, last longer and cheaper in the long run that bark or shredded mulches, and you have several colors to choose from, we have friends that used it and it looks like real mulch, just do a web search for rubber mulch and you should find it....Good Luck with your roses
Reply:horse manure
Reply:You can use leaves, grass clippings, all sorts of things if you don't want to use bark.
Reply:100% all natural, hand picked cow ****.
Reply:If you have a freshwater fishtank clean it out and take that dirty water and pour it by the roses....THEY GROW LIKE MAD. as far as the actual mulch never thought it mattered
Reply:Considering the other answers. Manure is not a mulch. A mulch is used to stabilize the soil and help retain moisture. Roses need 2 to 3 inches of bark chips, straw, or you could use coco mats. Roses do require regular fertilizer use, try one produced especially for the roses you plant.
Reply:A friend of mine had planted her roses under pine trees and the needles from them became mulch, not sure what else she used on her roses but she had some of the most beautiful roses I have ever seen.

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