Hope this won't be too much of a distraction, but I thought it might be best to ask some 'experts' about something rose related I've been pondering.
We have a border, path on one side, boundary on the other, probably a bit over a metre deep as a rough guess (though no more than 2), which I appreciate doesn't give a lot of room. At one end of this run is a shed, at the other is a mature Hibiscus (about 9-10' tall if not more).
I've been thinking about possibly trying some roses, amongst other things, in there as a rather informal 'hedge' (just a physical and visual barrier rather than anything to structured/standardised). Obviously for that to work they would need to either get or be able to be maintained as fairly tall (6'-8' range), but also be controllable and/or not sucker like mad.
All my previous experience with roses is for much smaller (3'-4' range), and I must confess to being a little intimidated by the larger ones in case I end up planting a monster.
Anyway, I thought I'd enquire as to:
1) If this idea is feasible in the space available, and 2) whether anyone might have some suggestions for possible candidates.
For myself I personally prefer the look visually of single (or close to) flowers, and I do wonder about a wild rose (or a small mix) for the hips as with the repeat flowering ones the temptation is always to deadhead for more flowers.
Having said that we did consider getting "The Lark Ascending" a few years ago for another spot but decided against it after reading elsewhere that it can in fact grow much taller than the 5' David Austin say it does, but perhaps in this spot that would work?
The thought is essentially to find something we like, and wouldn't mind having elsewhere as a stand alone shrub, that suits the location, but plant them together so that there is a secondary aspect of a somewhat thorny barrier, as opposed to looking at it as a hedge first and attractive shrubs second.
Anyway, hope this wasn't too long and thanks for any thoughts you may have (even if they amount to "your totally barmy!" )
@Ditsy, I had to plant a bush rose in one of those pots in the autumn of 2019, I lined it with plastic and put it in the shade on the hottest days. I watered it well and regularly and it stayed in the pot, (which was the only one big enough I had left) all last year, flowered beautifully and I have only just planted out the rose a month ago.
Hope this helps. I wouldn't buy another metal pot though. Actually having said that, I've had a Nelly Moser clematis in one for about 3-4 years on the shady side of the house!
@Elothir Your ideas sound good. You would find out that crazy people here grow tens of roses in spaces smaller than yours There is a great difference between 1m deep border and 2m deep border. Can you measure it or even better, take some photos? And what's on the boundary, do you have a fence there or nothing? Both depths can allow tall roses but they would need to be different ones (on support vs. freestanding shrubs).
@Elothir ... that's ok, we can help you there... first of all though, I claim the gold medal for barminess... so you needn't worry on that score.. ... can we be clear that you are in Britain, or on the Continent.. I might be mixing you up with another member.. ...these roses you want, how many and you want them to be thorny is that right?
..the narrow aspect is not a problem for me, I deal with much smaller dimensions than that.. but are you happy with walking past this hedge with thorny roses, that may snag you?..
The Lark Ascending is tall and thorny but not unmanageable... it grows quickly and is 6 feet in no time.. it's very upright and bushy, but not too wide spreading.. ..thorns on this rose below... I should say prickles as roses don't actually have thorns but we all call them that.. ..could you live with this?..
Astronomia is definitely on my wish list, @Nollie. I think in my new garden, which is the other side of the Pyrenees, I will not be all that far from where you are, so I may go back up this thread for more ideas! Though am quite an aficionado of old roses and less so of David Austin... I'm always looking for the perfect disease-free rose. I have lately bought 'For Your Eyes Only' which has really beautiful and complex colours, I suspect there is some 'Mutabilis' involved there; it's pretty resistant so far.
Apologies, the second photo has decided to rotate anticlockwise and I don't know how to turn it back...
Posts
We have a border, path on one side, boundary on the other, probably a bit over a metre deep as a rough guess (though no more than 2), which I appreciate doesn't give a lot of room. At one end of this run is a shed, at the other is a mature Hibiscus (about 9-10' tall if not more).
I've been thinking about possibly trying some roses, amongst other things, in there as a rather informal 'hedge' (just a physical and visual barrier rather than anything to structured/standardised). Obviously for that to work they would need to either get or be able to be maintained as fairly tall (6'-8' range), but also be controllable and/or not sucker like mad.
All my previous experience with roses is for much smaller (3'-4' range), and I must confess to being a little intimidated by the larger ones in case I end up planting a monster.
Anyway, I thought I'd enquire as to:
1) If this idea is feasible in the space available, and 2) whether anyone might have some suggestions for possible candidates.
For myself I personally prefer the look visually of single (or close to) flowers, and I do wonder about a wild rose (or a small mix) for the hips as with the repeat flowering ones the temptation is always to deadhead for more flowers.
Having said that we did consider getting "The Lark Ascending" a few years ago for another spot but decided against it after reading elsewhere that it can in fact grow much taller than the 5' David Austin say it does, but perhaps in this spot that would work?
The thought is essentially to find something we like, and wouldn't mind having elsewhere as a stand alone shrub, that suits the location, but plant them together so that there is a secondary aspect of a somewhat thorny barrier, as opposed to looking at it as a hedge first and attractive shrubs second.
Anyway, hope this wasn't too long and thanks for any thoughts you may have (even if they amount to "your totally barmy!"
@Ditsy, I had to plant a bush rose in one of those pots in the autumn of 2019, I lined it with plastic and put it in the shade on the hottest days. I watered it well and regularly and it stayed in the pot, (which was the only one big enough I had left) all last year, flowered beautifully and I have only just planted out the rose a month ago.
Hope this helps. I wouldn't buy another metal pot though. Actually having said that, I've had a Nelly Moser clematis in one for about 3-4 years on the shady side of the house!
There is a great difference between 1m deep border and 2m deep border. Can you measure it or even better, take some photos? And what's on the boundary, do you have a fence there or nothing?
Both depths can allow tall roses but they would need to be different ones (on support vs. freestanding shrubs).
... that's ok, we can help you there... first of all though, I claim the gold medal for barminess... so you needn't worry on that score..
... can we be clear that you are in Britain, or on the Continent.. I might be mixing you up with another member..
...these roses you want, how many and you want them to be thorny is that right?
..the narrow aspect is not a problem for me, I deal with much smaller dimensions than that.. but are you happy with walking past this hedge with thorny roses, that may snag you?..
The Lark Ascending is tall and thorny but not unmanageable... it grows quickly and is 6 feet in no time.. it's very upright and bushy, but not too wide spreading..
..thorns on this rose below... I should say prickles as roses don't actually have thorns but we all call them that..
..could you live with this?..
...I thought that was a close up of the Moon at first glance...
A few leafing up in the garden:
Astronomia:
...and Cramoisi Superieur, red china/bengale:
Apologies, the second photo has decided to rotate anticlockwise and I don't know how to turn it back...