@poppyfield64, yes I use a lot of ericaceous compost for everything, at least a third in the potting mix/mixed in planting hole and then thickly mulch all pots and beds with it. It’s mainly composted pine bark from a local supplier and I buy it by the builder’s bag load. I also drop a couple of teabags into watering cans overnight (when I remember) and add a teaspoon of chelated iron occasionally. All to help ameliorate my off-the-scale alkaline soil/hard well water and encourage freer nutrient take-up. Without all that my roses would be pale and chlorotic, but sun exposure has a more obvious affect on bloom colour - my HK gets east-facing morning sun only, but in the full-on south-facing border she would pale visibly!
@Grassly, careful with those catalogues, you will soon be persuading yourself that it makes far more economic sense, postage-wise, to order three from each 😆
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Evening all, Despite my best efforts I keep coming back to roses, the colours and the names, let alone the scent just draw me in. I am a great fan of David Austin although they are a bit like thoroughbred horses.... I now have 3 Blue for You, one couldn't ask for a more productive rose, I've got a New Dawn which I've had to relocate this year but it's doing well and have just bought two white roses for a shaded white patch I'm indulging myself in. Little White Pet & Susan Williams -Ellis. Finger's crossed for a good show. This is my Blue for You. I had to pick the blooms because it needed cutting back. So beautiful... These are my New Dawn, again I had to cut before it was moved. I have a lovely Cécile Brünner' too. Anyway, I hope the additions to my collection prove to be as lovely. I'll keep you posted. 🙂
“Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
They are lovely DD, such a coincidence, I too, picked some New Dawn blooms this afternoon, such a beautiful very pale pink colour. I've only got one bloom left on my Blue for You so left that on the bush. You will like Little White Pet, it's continually in bloom but doesn't grow too big. I don't know the other one.
@D0rdogne_Damsel...love your analogy of a DA rose and a thorough bred horse. The more I read on this forum about the growing of DA roses, the more I tend to agree with you...beautiful things but in need of pampering.
If they are in need of pampering what is everyone's opinion of Champagne Moment DA bush rose. I have that ready to order and wondered if its a floppy one to start with or if its prone to blackspot. Thanks for your help.
Thanks @Nollie that is helpful. As I like to check here on what works, you are all so helpful , and I dont like to take out plants that don't work, can't bring myself to do it😊, it makes a big difference to me.😁
I would like to get it right too @purplerallim but I made some choices with all the best intentions that haven't quite worked as I planned. I'm not getting rid of any though.
Overall my move into roses is working out really well. It's late in the season and I have more
blooms and buds than ever. With the cool weather they last and last. I
spent a happy few hours today outside, in the sun it was warmer than in
the house.
Posts
@Grassly, careful with those catalogues, you will soon be persuading yourself that it makes far more economic sense, postage-wise, to order three from each 😆
Despite my best efforts I keep coming back to roses, the colours and the names, let alone the scent just draw me in. I am a great fan of David Austin although they are a bit like thoroughbred horses....
I now have 3 Blue for You, one couldn't ask for a more productive rose, I've got a New Dawn which I've had to relocate this year but it's doing well and have just bought two white roses for a shaded white patch I'm indulging myself in. Little White Pet & Susan Williams -Ellis. Finger's crossed for a good show.
This is my Blue for You.
I had to pick the blooms because it needed cutting back.
So beautiful...
These are my New Dawn, again I had to cut before it was moved.
I have a lovely Cécile Brünner' too.
Anyway, I hope the additions to my collection prove to be as lovely. I'll keep you posted. 🙂
@purplerallim, Champagne Moment is not a rose bred by DA, it’s a Kordes rose, they are known for tough, disease-resistant roses and it certainly looks upright in photos. Some reviews here, the UK one being most useful:
https://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=2.38935.2&tab=32