VIAGRA FOR ROSES
The only thing to mulch your roses with is Lucene preferably weed free unless you like weeding. But why is Lucene so good for roses? The easy answer is the high nitrogen content of the Lucene but this is only half the story.
The secret ingredient in Lucence is Triacontanal which is a natural plant growth stimulant which is found in the wax on the stem of the Lucerne. It is like Viagra for roses it promotes the growth of the rose causing more basal growth (ideal in own root roses), better root development (great when getting roses established), more and larger flowers.
The most economical way to buy Lucerne is by the bale, I find this is the best way because you can just break of the biscuits, they tend to break off in 10cm pieces. If the roses has been established for more than a year the Lucerne can be spread right up to the base, but if it is a newly planted rose or mini rose it is best to leave a 5cm gap between the stem and the mulch.
I Hear you say “But Lucene breaks down so quickly and I have to mulch so often” This is the beauty of Lucence it has such a low carbon to nitrogen ratio and does break down so quickly. All that broken down goodness is going into the soil and around the roots of your roses.
Lucence can also be used as a fertilizer/ plant tonic. Just soak one biscuit of lucence in a bucket of water leave for about 2 days, the smeller the better. Then this tonic can be watered onto your roses using a watering can. A ratio of 50% tonic and 50% water. It is also possiable to buy the Lucerne in tea bags which you soak in the watering can for about half an hour and the water on the roses the tea bag can be used up to ten times.
So no matter which way you look at it you would be mad not to mulch your roses with any thing other than ROSE'S VIAGRA -lucerne!
