Really interesting to read the rose thread- not been on it before.
I have a Claire Austen and St Swithun and am contemplating swapping them over. Both are approx 4-5 years old, and quite healthy, although we are in a black spot area, and the Claire Austen and it’s shrub rose neighbours suffered with rose sawfly larvae damage last summer, for the first time. The St Swithun is climbing a trellis which is approx 8 ft by my front door, full sun, and gets nearly to the top. The Claire Austen is on a trellis against a brick garden wall, about 4ft high , west facing but partially shaded by car usually parked in front of it. M problem (which I should have foreseen, is that Claire (a beautiful rose) is much too vigorous for the site.
I think Claire will be happy in her new home, size wise but I am wondering whether St Swithun is likely to be too tall for the 4ft wall, even if trained very horizontally? I have replanted a number of shrub roses successfully in sites previously occupied by roses, by replacing the soil, shielding with cardboard/ newspaper, and using mycorrhizal fungi. (I do at this point have to credit my long suffering husband with the heavy work!- and I would be in the doghouse if he slogged over the St Swithun and it also turned out to be far too tall!)
@Marlorena I've archived this thread here mostly for nostalgic reasons. This is the thread which started off my rose curiosity and showed me that I could get named bareroot roses from DA, PB, TW, TCL etc. I bought my first bareroot in Dec. 2019. Before that, I used to buy the potted offerings from bnq, HB etc. and had not even heard of 'bareroot roses'. Once that 'rose' flame was lit, there was no turning back, especially during the pandemic days. My wallet is definitely lighter, but the enjoyment I am drawing from the roses is priceless. Thanks a lot for all the rose forumers for sharing
Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth
It looks like I won't be able to post on Houzz , as I am logged in but it won't let me type from my phone. It keeps deleting what I write. Would you let those on there know for me @Eustace that I'm not ignoring everyone just stuck.
Posts
The St Swithun is climbing a trellis which is approx 8 ft by my front door, full sun, and gets nearly to the top.
The Claire Austen is on a trellis against a brick garden wall, about 4ft high , west facing but partially shaded by car usually parked in front of it. M problem (which I should have foreseen, is that Claire (a beautiful rose) is much too vigorous for the site.
I think Claire will be happy in her new home, size wise but I am wondering whether St Swithun is likely to be too tall for the 4ft wall, even if trained very horizontally?
I have replanted a number of shrub roses successfully in sites previously occupied by roses, by replacing the soil, shielding with cardboard/ newspaper, and using mycorrhizal fungi. (I do at this point have to credit my long suffering husband with the heavy work!- and I would be in the doghouse if he slogged over the St Swithun and it also turned out to be far too tall!)