double knockout roses

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sunshinecld Watson, IL May 27, 2009

I just planted two double knockout roses in my backyard. Everything I have read about them say you need to use mulch on top. They are planted near our house and we have had termite problems. I'm reluctant to use any kind of mulch anymore. I know there are kinds of mulch that repel termites, but it still makes me leary to use it. Is there anything else I can use? Would river rock work or would it keep it from growing well? Any suggestions would help.

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Smokey_SC Piedmont, SC(Zone 7b) May 27, 2009

River rock would be fine. Just don't put them to close to the plant. Another option is pine needles.

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) May 28, 2009

i actually use rock mulch under a few of my roses that are prone to blackspot for the purpose of cutting down on the humidity around them. it looks nice and it seems to work well.

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gcorrier Lenoir City, TN May 29, 2009

Sunshine: I have 4 knock out/double knock outs at the head of my drive. Had weeds 2 years ago. I took shovel and scraped off top of all weeds in the area and dug holes dropped in roses with feed and organics in holes. I mulched nothing! No pine bark,cedar shavings, rock, absolutely nothing. I purposely planted them closer together than reccomended and far enough apart to ease my weed eater in and around the plants. These monsters have doubled to tripled in size and are now about to go thru bloom round 2! They were blooming during our last frosts and showed no damage what so ever. Flowers are long lasting. One was backed over by a car twice last summer and has come back with a vengence only showing minor signs of tire tracks. All I do is put down granular insectiside and feed for roses. Other than that these guys are on thier own. And they apparently like it! You will have good luck with these they are bred for lazy gardeners like me and I am sure a little tlc will give great rewards.

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plantfreak78 Rolesville, NC(Zone 7b) May 29, 2009

If you do decide you want regular mulch, cedar is a good choice because of it's natural bug-repelling properties. (Hardwod is usually the worst, most termite-prone choice)

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) May 29, 2009

and cypress is just plain wrong! lol

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peony8 Westford, MA(Zone 6a) May 31, 2009

> and cypress is just plain wrong!

Cypress mulch reminds me of barfed-up Spaghetti-Os.

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