Seq ....
Right now I am still mulching under the roses with shredded leaves that do not matt, but am using wood chips between the plants. I don't think they will degrade as quickly in the heat. I still have one to two months of high temps to get through.
Like I said before, it's the trees that are my biggest concern right now.
>>>pine bark mini nuggets.
One caution ... do not let them be in contact with the crown of your plants. I went out on a rose consultation this spring and the lady had used too thick of a layer of the mini pine bark nuggets and had mulched right over the crown of the rose. She also watered too much so the bark was always wet. All of her roses had severe canker at the base of the plants and, of course, root rot. I couldn't save any of them.
Smiles,
Lyn