Question: I can get ground corn cobs free. Would you advise putting some of these on the ground around the rose bushes? If so, about how thick? Are cobs better to use than saw dust? WS, Michigan.
Answer: Ground corn cobs are an excellent soil conditioner and mulch. They are, I think, superior to sawdust, chiefly because they are coarser. They aerate the soil better, encourage the organisms of decay, hold moisture and decompose slowly. The amount that can be used to advantage depends on how much they have decayed. If freshly ground use about a three-inch layer as a mulch.
