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To bury or not to bury rose grafts?
Nollie
Posts: 7,529
When I bought my first David Austin potted shrub rose, a RD Braithwaite, from a local garden centre, I planted it with the graft above ground because I didn’t know you were supposed to bury it. Since then, I quickly ordered lots more direct from DA and followed the enclosed instructions to bury the graft. They have all grown and flowered well, but Mr B is the best performer of the lot.
I know the current credo is to bury, but I must admit I find it much easier to access the base of Mr B to to clear up fallen leaves, mulch and water without splashing the leaves, unlike the buried ones. One, a Darcy Bussell, does flower well, but is very lax with some canes growing horizontally along the ground that are impossible to prop up. Her lower buds sometimes rot, she got the worst black spot over winter and despite following all the advice of forum members about defoliating remaining winter leaves, clearing up underneath, opening up the structure, ensuring good ventilation, mulching etc., her new growth has developed black spot again, so here I go again with the hygiene routine
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I do sometimes wonder if I would have been better planting all the grafts above ground. As a very inexperienced rose grower it seems highly disrespectful to even think that!
What’s your opinion?
I know the current credo is to bury, but I must admit I find it much easier to access the base of Mr B to to clear up fallen leaves, mulch and water without splashing the leaves, unlike the buried ones. One, a Darcy Bussell, does flower well, but is very lax with some canes growing horizontally along the ground that are impossible to prop up. Her lower buds sometimes rot, she got the worst black spot over winter and despite following all the advice of forum members about defoliating remaining winter leaves, clearing up underneath, opening up the structure, ensuring good ventilation, mulching etc., her new growth has developed black spot again, so here I go again with the hygiene routine
.I do sometimes wonder if I would have been better planting all the grafts above ground. As a very inexperienced rose grower it seems highly disrespectful to even think that!
What’s your opinion?
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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I discovered the potting trick when I had a Tess of the D'Urbevilles who didn't like her first position in my garden and then needed moving anyway so I could dismantle her trellis to let a mini digger in. I put her in a huge pot where she stayed for 2 years before I planted her out in a more sheltered position and she thrived thereafter. Should have taken cuttings for here...........
There are mixed views on this.
It used to be said that grafts should be above the ground to help stop suckers. More recently people say bury them to stop wind rock. I have both, don't know that it really matters so long as they are fed and watered.
My daughter planted hers above ground because that's what she read on the French internet site she asked. She (and I) live in France. Then she ordered some David Austin roses which came with instructions to bury the grafts. But since then she has put well rotted manure and compost around her roses so the grafts are now just below ground.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
IMHO when the rootstock is exposed to light and heat ( and a hoe ) it's far more likely to sucker than when it's buried.
When it's buried, the top stock will form its own roots.
I'd say bury as I've seen no compelling evidence to support not burying.
I have a dilemma about what to do with my badly behaving Darcy Bussell. Two of her main canes are growing out horizontally from the buried graft, which are in contact with the soil and inevitably get wet every time I water - which is why, I think, I am getting some lower bud rot and maybe even the blackspot. If I chop them off, she will be pretty denuded but will she recover? Given the cuts will be at or just below soil level, is this a bad idea? Should I leave well alone? Trouble is @Obelixx I like her where she is, so I am loathe to try your crafty potting trick, but perhaps I need to do it anyway as I think she needs some corrective surgery...