Hello! I'm new to the concept of Forums and I've been pointed in the direction of the "Rose thread", so I hope my comment finds it's way there! I am in the process of planning my first rose bed; a quarter circle, flower bed that sits in the far corner of our brick weave front drive. In the height of summer it does get good sunlight for at least half of the day as the two boundaries are a 3 ft high fence and 3 ft high brick wall. These two boundaries are each 4 meters long and the radius from the corner point to the edge of the front of the border is also 4 meters at the central point. So quite a good size! It's been jam packed with leggy, overgrown shrubs, which I want to replace and the soil looks good. I have a vision for a rose bed, filled with blousy, strong fragrant blooms that I can also cut and bring indoors when in bloom. I have avoided roses in the past as I'm fearful of the work involved (cutting back, aphids and disease), but would love to give them a go. If I was to to take the plunge, could you advise whether I should plant the bed with the same variety and colour of rose for impact or choose a mix of varieties and colours? I'm also keen on very strong bright colours together like purples, bright pinks and oranges but not sure if this might look "messy" as I estimate the bed needing at least 12 bushes. I was at Kew last year and identified a few roses that I loved the smell of, but it would help to know what varieties could be recommended for good disease resistance and strongly scented blooms for a rose beginner? Many thanks.
@Florafan .. you're very welcome to the Roses thread and thanks for your questions... what we really need to see is a photo of your area in question because only you can see what you've got to work with, and we cannot, so it would be good if you could supply us with a picture.. ...it would also be useful to indicate how much you are prepared to spend on roses... as you may need quite a few it will work out expensive from some vendors, but then you may want to get cheaper ones from say Aldi, B and Q or some other outlet... so you need to tell us this really, otherwise we might recommend to you roses at a price you wouldn't be prepared to pay... they can be anything from £3 to £25 each, depends where you go... so where do you intend to buy them from? ...and finally, and please don't think I'm patronising or anything, but how experienced are you at planting? could you manage that number of roses? being new to it... the bare root season is coming to an end shortly, and they are easiest to plant...
..thanks so much...
oh, and the other thing we need to know.. these old plants you are removing, are there any pyracantha, apple or old roses amongst them at all? what shrubs are they?..
@B3 ...I wouldn't do anything about that Albertine rose.. it's doing alright as it is, so just leave it be.. the knobbly bit is always the ugliest part, but what's done is done, and next time you'll know better to bury the graft a bit more... soil level or a bit below is fine, but there's nothing really too wrong with just above either.. so much is personal preference.. sometimes they sucker more with exposure like that... ..you could apply some mulch around the base which would cover that up for the most part [don't use manure - compost is fine]...
I've just planted a rose in the ground which was in 15l pot since autumn. A huge amount of new roots and a lot of white feeding roots (I am very happy about that) but obviously nowhere near enough to form a firm rootball. I understand this is disturbing for the rose and not the best timing but I was very careful and quick and the rose is tough.
I have two more in pots like that, intended to go in the ground. Is it better to do it as soon as possible (before the roses start to really grow) or wait for later in the year? The pots are quite big and I think they won't form rootballs any time soon.
@edhelka ... I would do it now... the rose will suffer a minor setback that's all.. at this time of year they will soon recover from the shock... I'm sure you know but firm planting is essential to minimise disturbance and some watering over the next week or two until things start moving again...
I felt sorry for Mortimer Sackler, as I moved it in autumn then again last week. Had lots of new roots growing on it. I only had to move it back by about a foot which seems silly but it was necessary for the look I’m trying to achieve.
I wish people would stop mentioning Silas Marner, it’s making me regret not ordering one, he was sat in my basket for a while! Can’t think where he’d fit though - I’ve got spaces, but more spaces for smaller roses. There’s room for a couple of larger ones but they’d have to go next to Yellows and I don’t think he’d fit well there.
And I'm not allowed any more large pots, would make the pram too awkward to get out...have to wait a few years.
Anyway on the plus side it’s getting really exciting seeing the roses growing - every day there’s a noticeable difference, especially looking at Malvern Hills!
We recently swapped around our downstairs rooms, so what was the playroom is now the dining room, which is our extension sticking out into the garden. Lovely sitting there looking out at everything. I’m really glad we did the shuffle!
Thanks @Marlorena. I'm going to plant something shallow rooted to hide it. I'll know better next time. I didn't even realise it was a climber/ rambler until I got rid of the euphorbia and it took off!
It’ll just be starting to grow new shoots, they’ll start growing more over the next month or so.
Mine are at different stages, some have proper new stems with sets of leaves and a couple are as you describe, just showing signs of breaking buds and new growth.
My Gabriel Oak is like that despite being planted at the same time as others that are further along. Last year one of my new roses didn’t show any signs of growth at all until part way through April - I was worried, but it started growing fine after that.
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...it would also be useful to indicate how much you are prepared to spend on roses... as you may need quite a few it will work out expensive from some vendors, but then you may want to get cheaper ones from say Aldi, B and Q or some other outlet... so you need to tell us this really, otherwise we might recommend to you roses at a price you wouldn't be prepared to pay... they can be anything from £3 to £25 each, depends where you go... so where do you intend to buy them from?
...and finally, and please don't think I'm patronising or anything, but how experienced are you at planting? could you manage that number of roses? being new to it... the bare root season is coming to an end shortly, and they are easiest to plant...
..thanks so much...
oh, and the other thing we need to know.. these old plants you are removing, are there any pyracantha, apple or old roses amongst them at all? what shrubs are they?..
...I wouldn't do anything about that Albertine rose.. it's doing alright as it is, so just leave it be.. the knobbly bit is always the ugliest part, but what's done is done, and next time you'll know better to bury the graft a bit more... soil level or a bit below is fine, but there's nothing really too wrong with just above either.. so much is personal preference.. sometimes they sucker more with exposure like that...
..you could apply some mulch around the base which would cover that up for the most part [don't use manure - compost is fine]...
...thanks for the sale info with Trevor... oh gosh I want a few of those... let me think on that...
I wish people would stop mentioning Silas Marner, it’s making me regret not ordering one, he was sat in my basket for a while! Can’t think where he’d fit though - I’ve got spaces, but more spaces for smaller roses. There’s room for a couple of larger ones but they’d have to go next to Yellows and I don’t think he’d fit well there.
And I'm not allowed any more large pots, would make the pram too awkward to get out...have to wait a few years.
Anyway on the plus side it’s getting really exciting seeing the roses growing - every day there’s a noticeable difference, especially looking at Malvern Hills!
We recently swapped around our downstairs rooms, so what was the playroom is now the dining room, which is our extension sticking out into the garden. Lovely sitting there looking out at everything. I’m really glad we did the shuffle!
It’ll just be starting to grow new shoots, they’ll start growing more over the next month or so.
Mine are at different stages, some have proper new stems with sets of leaves and a couple are as you describe, just showing signs of breaking buds and new growth.
My Gabriel Oak is like that despite being planted at the same time as others that are further along. Last year one of my new roses didn’t show any signs of growth at all until part way through April - I was worried, but it started growing fine after that.