Wood chips are a good mulch, long lasting, and if you put enough down, you can walk on it without compacting the topsoil. Use whatever organic material is handy, cheap, and preferably local in origin.

Generally there is no need for concern about diseases from other plants affecting roses. There are a few exceptions, but fungi are generally specialized in their host preference.

Good Lord yes, take all you can find. Michael is right. I have heard that chips from cedars might be an exception because of the high quantities of essential oils, but in general wood chips are wonderful in the garden, and you can't have too much of them. In my garden in Washington State I used them by the truckload--ten yards at a time.
Melissa

Thank you! What about leaves - old oak leavs that are still in the yard from this past autumn, and a fw other trees leaves. Would it be ok to shred those with a lawnmower/leaf mulcher and use those to mulch roses?

Also - how close can mulch get to the rose?

Thanks!

Wood chips are outstanding mulch. They are even better if lots of leaves or needles from those plants are mixed it.

You don't want to mix them into the soil though. If you do that, they will bind nitrogen while they decompose. On the surface this effect is not a problem.

I would avoid black walnut, eucalyptus, or any wood that is known to have chemicals that repress the growth of competitors. There are not may trees with this problem. These are the only two I ask my tree trim man not to bring me.

Rosefolly

Chips, leaves, all you can take. Just use them as surface mulch to break down slowly and don't mix into the soil. Ditto, though on the recommendation to stay away from black walnut chips.

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Musings blog

michaelg, I wish you lived closer to me. I'd take you to dinner and pick your brain. You are so knowledgeable about many things.

Would it be ok to shred those with a lawnmower/leaf mulcher and use those to mulch roses?

Heavens yes! Composted shredded tree leaves when used as a mulch are sometimes referred to as "leaf mold". They're a terrific mulch!

Just yesterday I mulched around my roses (mainly to discourage the weeds) with the needles from underneath a row of cypress trees. There seemed to be plenty of roof rat and/or rabbit droppings mixed in which pleased me. However, does anyone know whether the oil from cypresses is harmful to roses or perennials? I'd appreciate any information.

Thank you.

Ingrid

Ingrid be careful with rodent droppings due to possible Hanta virus.

For roses keep the mulch at least 3 or 4" away from the base of the plant. Too much retained moisture right at the base encourages disease.

Here is a link that might be useful: hanta virus info

Hoovb, they're continually testing for Hanta virus here and haven't found any sign of it for a long time. Some years ago two cases were found, but nothing recently. Thank you for your warning though.

Ingrid