Hi guys, learning from my mistakes I thought I better ask before buying again.
I have this little retaining wall that supports a patio-type thingy. It's about 4 foot high at one end and about 1 foot at the other. I was wondering if it's possible to grow a rambling/climbing rose horizontally along the wall and get it to spill out on to the patio? Spilling out bit is important to me because I won't be able to see the rose otherwise without going down hill (the garden is steeply sloped). I guess it means I want a rambler, right?
I saw pictures of roses on top of fences and walls so I assume it's possible to grow them horizontally. Is the whole idea silly? Please advise!
P.S. please excuse the messy state of that wall. Recently moved in and the place is not in the best state.
How funny about your Bathsheba, @WAMS. Mine is starting a big flush and looks like your top colour! I'll take pics later if the rain hasn't ruined the flowers too much. Can't recall the last really hot day we had here in Kent, summer has been very middling so far.
@salo.daria all ramblers I know are big or big-ish. A climber is enough if you want to plant at the foot of the wall and train horizontally. However, if there is enough soil on the top of your wall and nothing stops the root from going as far into the ground as it wants, I'd plant a ground covering rose on top of the wall. It will spill. Pls check my last post. Can you see how The Fairy wriggles and crawls on the ground? This is what will spill over the rim when planted on your wall.
@salo.daria is it quite a shady spot? If you have a picture from futher back, including the patio, that would be helpful.
@SalixGold, you are right - it is rather shady unfortunately. A few large sycamores on the shady side are coming down in September though. I am hoping for more sun!
Photos are attached below. It's really hard to see at the moment. Everything is overgrown. Sorry for this eyesore, everyone! On the upside I could be a new star of the Gallery Of Shame thread
@salo.daria I think one of the groundcover/short ramblers will suit that location well. e.g. Sommerwind, Alba Meidiland, Open Arms, Fairy, Katharina Zeimet.
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
@salo.daria all ramblers I know are big or big-ish. A climber is enough if you want to plant at the foot of the wall and train horizontally. However, if there is enough soil on the top of your wall and nothing stops the root from going as far into the ground as it wants, I'd plant a ground covering rose on top of the wall. It will spill. Pls check my last post. Can you see how The Fairy wriggles and crawls on the ground? This is what will spill over the rim when planted on your wall.
That's an idea, @ElbFee! At the moment the patio is paved but we are planning on replacing the slabs in the future so there might be an option there. Not any time soon unfortunately. I guess I could keep roses in pots in the meantime, right? Would ground covers be happy in pots?
Not trying to be contradictory, Dasha, but what a lovely garden!
Thank you, @WAMS! It is a lovely spot that's for sure! The garden is just bare... It was covered in brambles and Himalayan balsom and nothing else. So we cleared that out and now other weeds are coming through of course. Let's say it's very wildlife friendly
@salo.daria I think one of the groundcover/short ramblers will suit that location well. e.g. Sommerwind, Alba Meidiland, Open Arms, Fairy, Katharina Zeimet.
Will check them out, @Eustace! Would you plant them at the base of the wall or on top as ElbFee suggested for ground covers?
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Can't recall the last really hot day we had here in Kent, summer has been very middling so far.
However, if there is enough soil on the top of your wall and nothing stops the root from going as far into the ground as it wants, I'd plant a ground covering rose on top of the wall. It will spill. Pls check my last post. Can you see how The Fairy wriggles and crawls on the ground? This is what will spill over the rim when planted on your wall.
That's an idea, @ElbFee! At the moment the patio is paved but we are planning on replacing the slabs in the future so there might be an option there. Not any time soon unfortunately. I guess I could keep roses in pots in the meantime, right? Would ground covers be happy in pots?