I have a mature aubergine rose which has gone off like a thirty bob rocket since I cleared away some shrubs near it.I There is a lumpy bit at soil level. Does it need to be buried?
Pretty ugly that isn't it? which is why I always bury the graft below soil level.. whoever planted that placed it above ground..
You can't really cover that with soil without creating a weird looking mound... which will soon slide downwards.. no need...
A simple effective solution is to plant a climbing Geranium near the base, one like 'Ann Folkard' for instance, which will scramble over it and cover it for most of the year, climbing the lower canes in the process.... look nice with Albertine.. or some kind of small evergreen shrub, something like that.. best planted from a small pot so you don't have to disturb the roses roots..
I'm afraid I planted it - in my defence, it was a long time ago😕. It's doing so well without competition, I want to be careful what I plant in front of it. The pot idea is great. I have plenty of candidates.
Surely the main reason for planting the graft below soil level, is not that it looks ugly, but in order to prevent suckering and to anchor the plant better?
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
I posted a ‘graft better above or below ground’ query a while back, and the general consensus on here was ‘below’, to stop wind rock etc., and that ‘above’ was outdated advice and we know better now, so I’m surprised the RHS is still saying above is best. Both David Austin and Marlorena are pre-eminent rose growers and both say ‘below’!
The first rose I planted I left the graft above ground (because that’s what I thought you were meant to do) but the graft has gradually been subsumed by mulch and is not really noticeable now.
I inherited two elderly hybrid teas, with a similarly ugly, knarled graft very highly and very prominently on display - I dislike them and would rip them out but OH won’t let me. Albertine is a nice rose though!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
I always plant my roses with the graft union below soil level. They seem to like it. I would not set about burying a graft union on an established plant but would do as BL suggests and give it a thick mulch every year.
I also use ground cover such as hardy geraniums and others to hide bare legs.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Oh that's good, I'm glad you're happy with it regardless... too bad about the knobbly bit... but with roses like these we mustn't be afraid of planting some ground cover which can cover up these least aesthetic parts of roses..
Here's one of mine... 'Lady of Shalott' with an unlikely companion in Delosperma cooperi.. as you can see it doesn't stop the rose from sprouting at the base..
Thanks @Marlorena . To be honest,I didn't even notice the knobbly bit until I was weeding and feeding😊. I'll find something I like to hide the bare stems. I'll take your advice about putting a pot under it for now
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You can't really cover that with soil without creating a weird looking mound... which will soon slide downwards.. no need...
A simple effective solution is to plant a climbing Geranium near the base, one like 'Ann Folkard' for instance, which will scramble over it and cover it for most of the year, climbing the lower canes in the process.... look nice with Albertine.. or some kind of small evergreen shrub, something like that.. best planted from a small pot so you don't have to disturb the roses roots..
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
The first rose I planted I left the graft above ground (because that’s what I thought you were meant to do) but the graft has gradually been subsumed by mulch and is not really noticeable now.
I inherited two elderly hybrid teas, with a similarly ugly, knarled graft very highly and very prominently on display - I dislike them and would rip them out but OH won’t let me. Albertine is a nice rose though!
I also use ground cover such as hardy geraniums and others to hide bare legs.
Here's one of mine... 'Lady of Shalott' with an unlikely companion in Delosperma cooperi.. as you can see it doesn't stop the rose from sprouting at the base..
..have fun with your roses ..!