As I say, both Crimson Glory and Etoile are quite new in for me, so I can't really report back much yet. The canes seem fine on both to tie in when young. I am training both over arches (after much consulation on this forum and years trying to find the right roses) and weaving the canes around an arch has been fine - but done as they are growing. Both roses are in equal sun - as much as I have at the far end of a north facing garden. They get good sun through the summer but not baking Med heat by any means. I tend to buy from David Austin.
@Nollie is the rose expert here. But would say, that I have learned to take seriously what David Austin himself said - that you can never overwater a rose. If you want them to grow healthily and well add manure and about three times more water than you imagine for a good few years. When I have properly watered, long, with a hose, I can see the difference in growth in my roses in 24 - 48 hours. It's quite remarkable. New roses, at least, I find to be very chatty, like sunflowers or dahlias - lots of fast feedback. I like chat.
In impatience and frustration at finding my 'right' rose , I'm sure I have overdone the rose planting and will end up taking out ones that work least well, which I don't suppose is the right or economical way of going about gardening. But I think I will, at least, get some dramatic results. And I will learn something. I might end up with a shed covered in roses which might be an interesting thing to watch. 🥴
As it happens I’m also harbouring plans for a rose over an arch where there is more sun, so I shall be following in your footsteps @Fire. The heavy watering regime is a timely reminder.
Chat is good, unless it’s docks saying hello again. I find sanguisorbas, echinacea and heucheras quite vocal, but maybe I’m just conflating that with their swift relief at being watered when parched and your chat is altogether more nuanced.
Trial planting has been one of the best ways to learn for me, and hoiking out non-performers is cathartic, but I’ve only recently had the discipline and ruthlessness to do it. All too easy to fall into the trap of keeping everything going for as long as possible. Net result: always a lot knocking around in pots here waiting for a home.
Talking of arches, I long for a modern design and have been practising garden-related DIY skills, so perhaps when Covid has abated I’ll join a local metalwork class and see if it’s feasible to make this, the only contemporary arch I can find to buy online.
That's gorgeous @johnnypenstemon. I went for plastic coated metal - which I don't like but can't bring myself to hoik out. If I had been on the forum when I was choosing, experienced peeps would have told me about other options for a 3m+ arch, but this Agriframe, at the time, is all I could find. I'm tempted now to go for a wooden pergola-type structure, although metal will last longer, is cheap and needs no maintainance. It cost about £250.
A metal working class sounds ideal. I've done fused glass making classes and put it in all over the place.
Below are my two arches from summer 2019.
Below is now where roses are now - I guess to test to see if it will work. I have become quite rose obsessed and the plan may well be unhinged, I admit. The red roses are the red lines and the white roses are the blue lines (nearly all climbers as the garden is narrow). The one regular rose bush I have flowering is Barkarole, which is entirely stunning, dark red, vigorous and healthy. It produces blood red, valentine roses on long stems and each flower last for weeks and weeks. Ena has been flowering since April and has buds again now.
It's worth noting that some roses take five years+ to hit their stride, esp David Austin's own. There's much discussion of this on the dedicated rose thread. It takes more than five years, I have found, if you don't water them copiously. Shouting at them to hurry up doesn't work well either. 😣
@Fire Great to see your garden furtlings. The agriframes have clean lines which I much prefer to the profusion of designs aimed, it would seem, at people who buy those lord-of-the-manor titles. A wooden pergola can look wonderful and timeless if it errs on the side of caution with the bells and whistles.
I’m not so keen on waiting five years but hey ho, it is what it is. When do you hope to see your newish red rose climbers flower reasonably, if not profusely? And how long would you estimate before they cover the structures, however thinly? Piece of string questions, I appreciate...
It’s handy to know about Barkarole as I will likely be replacing the leggy old shrub rose pictured on the right below, something I inherited in a neighbouring garden I’ve taken over as an experimental playground. Trying to complement that gnarled old beast piqued my interest in the species. (The climber I originally asked about is destined for the stretch of old brick wall to the left of the defunct BBQ).
I must have a thorough trawl through that rose dedicated thread.
As for shouting, that vacancy for Rose Whisperer might be more fruitful
@johnnypenstemon - Oh, I am no whisperer. I'm more the type is always on the verge of pulling everything up in frustration and starting again. I hope to disappear under a red tide by June. I have managed to get roses canes to cover the little arch this summer and just about extend one slim arm across half of the big arch. With all the rain and proper watering next year, I think the big arch will be properly clothed. (I'm going to put in a watering system). I'm fairly sure I'm only this impatient because I don't like look at the back metal arch. I'm considering wrapping it in wicker, but I think the smarter thing to do would be to replace it and stop moaning. If I put in a wooden pergola I would have to preserve it every year to help it stay up (along with all my other wood) and I really can't be bothered with that at this point. Ho hum.
I think a red rose would look stunning on your wall, but may disappear over the wall and next door. Do you know your neighbours? I suspect that Etoile, if happy will grow fast for you. But walls are so tricky, because they give shadow from rain and take up moisture. Give your climbing rose a bed or a good deep border and it will thank you. Plant it a good bit away from the wall. (Maybe consider deeper borders).
There are many more good, dark red bush roses than climbers. Deep Secret and Papa Meilland are lovely (not semi-triple). It depends what you are looking for.
@Fire, that's a lovely wide arch and it would be such a shame (and expensive) to chuck it. Have you considered you could paint it in say a calming sage green? Hammerite paint is very good and helps to protect against rust as well, have a look at their colour range. We have both metal and wooden arches and I will have to have one of the wooden posts replaced in the spring, they don't last in the ground more than about five years. It will probably be cheaper and less maintenance to get a metal one.
@Lizzie27 - Ah, I hadn't thought of painting it. It's a good idea. Thanks for that.
I have some long pieces of willow wicker. One day soon I will try
wrapping the frame and see how that looks. I like the idea of painting the frame in an unobtrusive dark rust colour - a bit less stand out than black. I have to say that the arch is well built and will no doubt outlast me.I thought it might weather a bit, but it looks the same as the day I put it in eight years ago.
I think that once the roses get going properly, it will be fine. I also have some Freckles clematis slowly making its way across. I did have a mad wisteria over it for some years.
@Lizzie27@Fire Our pergola is fixed to metal brackets which are cemented in the ground, so the wood is only above the ground and can be replaced if needed but it's pressure treated and painted and should be fine for a long time. Our wooden arch (inherited) is cemented directly into the ground (wooden legs in the cement) and obviously can't be painted or treated in any way because it's covered with plants but I would say it's at least five years old and will do another five easily without any maintenance.
I would recommend Ena Harkness - I have one on a south facing brick wall at the front of the house - it is still in flower now and has flowered all Summer and the scent is that really old fashioned rose scent - sorry I lack the technical ability to attach a photo!
Posts
Chat is good, unless it’s docks saying hello again. I find sanguisorbas, echinacea and heucheras quite vocal, but maybe I’m just conflating that with their swift relief at being watered when parched and your chat is altogether more nuanced.
Trial planting has been one of the best ways to learn for me, and hoiking out non-performers is cathartic, but I’ve only recently had the discipline and ruthlessness to do it. All too easy to fall into the trap of keeping everything going for as long as possible. Net result: always a lot knocking around in pots here waiting for a home.
Talking of arches, I long for a modern design and have been practising garden-related DIY skills, so perhaps when Covid has abated I’ll join a local metalwork class and see if it’s feasible to make this, the only contemporary arch I can find to buy online.
I’m not so keen on waiting five years but hey ho, it is what it is. When do you hope to see your newish red rose climbers flower reasonably, if not profusely? And how long would you estimate before they cover the structures, however thinly? Piece of string questions, I appreciate...
It’s handy to know about Barkarole as I will likely be replacing the leggy old shrub rose pictured on the right below, something I inherited in a neighbouring garden I’ve taken over as an experimental playground. Trying to complement that gnarled old beast piqued my interest in the species. (The climber I originally asked about is destined for the stretch of old brick wall to the left of the defunct BBQ).
I must have a thorough trawl through that rose dedicated thread.
As for shouting, that vacancy for Rose Whisperer might be more fruitful
colour range.
We have both metal and wooden arches and I will have to have one of the wooden posts replaced in the spring, they don't last in the ground more than about five years. It will probably be cheaper and less maintenance to get a metal one.