Rose blooms damaged since mulching garden

Question

My roses are blooming but the blooms are deformed and start to die before they’ve fully bloomed. I built a garden of layers of Lucerne and dynamic lifter (dried chook poo) – my veggies are thriving but the poor roses are ruined. Is there a way I can fix the soil around the roses? They bloomed beautifully before I mulched.

Answer 1

Remove the mulch used and mulch with a different mulch and perhaps not as thick a layering of mulch. It sounds like the mulch may have carried in some insect or mite eggs unfortunately. I would remove and discard the mulch. Spray the area with a good insecticide. Water all the rosebushes well and perhaps sprinkle a cup of Epsom Salts around each bush and work into the soils lightly before watering. If the problem persists with the blooms and some foliage problems, it could then be mites instead of insects. Purchase a good mitacide in your area and spray the rosebushes with that. There could also be an imbalance that was created in the soils due to the dried poo. The only way to really correct the imbalance is to just keep the rosebushes watered well and let it work itself out of the soils. I always recommend folks do things in light stages with their gardens. Add anything you wish to add in small amounts and wait for the plants or bushes reaction. Then add a bit more. It is easier to control or correct a minor reaction than a major reaction. Hope all goes well for you. Please feel free to contact me again if needed. Here is a link to some good articles for you as well: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/roses/

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https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/roses/best-mulch-roses.htm