I maybe a glutton for punishment or just plain daft.
Following on from another dinner conversation I have decided to tackle a new border this year, on top of the one I did at the beginning of the year. But this one is going to throw some real shade!
It is north facing with a 4 mtr granite wall (with a telephone pole) at the back and will be approx 15 mtrs long and 3 mtrs deep. Currently I have three roses planted on part of the back wall: 1 x Madam Alfred Carriere, 1 x Unknown red and 1 x Albertine. All three were planted within the last season. It is on a slope, going down eastwards on the 3 mtr depth (if that makes sense!) Soil is neutral, loam based - Though I plan to fully clear and dig it over before conditioning it with farmyard manure and garden compost, so it will be enriched. It maybe North facing but it is very sheltered, but shaded and tends towards the damp/free drain. I will post some pictures so that you better know and see the lie of the land.
Obviously I want to plant some more roses and I want height from them (I will be adding in some shrubs i.e. a Camellia Margaret Davis and Magnolia Stellata, a climbing Hydrangea as well as some shrub hydrangeas). I am in two minds on either shrub roses or climbers going up a couple of obelisks (say 2 mtr in height). As it is North facing I may well go for wooden obelisks that I paint white. Rose preference is colour and large blooms rather than scent and as thornless as possible (but that is not a deal breaker). Colour-wise, we tend towards the yellow/orange & apricots, but would not rule out red/pink (but no white as the MAC and the Albertine will give enough lightness and I would like to create some depth). Narcissus does really well in this area and so there will be Spring yellows for the Rose colour to repeat later in the year. Perennials and any Annuals will be chosen to fit in with the shrubs and roses.
No rush on this one as I will need all summer just to prepare the bed (i.e. dig out loosestrife and crocoshia corms, a cotoneaster and a willow - told you I was a glutton for punishment). So I will be getting the roses later in the year during bare-root season.In terms of style I think an informal cottage garden would be more appropriate for the property.
I do have some thoughts, but I would rather not say them at the moment so as to get the group's honest and unbiased opinions. All of your advice, knowledge and garden pictures have lulled me into the loving arms of trust. You may or may not know your onions, but you do know your roses!
@alexander.wade The Generous Gardener has much stiffer growth so not as easy to train. I’ve had several snapped canes when trying to tie them in. It does look good by a front door, has good fat red hips in autumn. There’s a house nearby that has one at the front and it looks great. Stronger scent than Lady of the Lake. Both good roses
@Lizzie27, all the articles I read were talking about spent coffee grounds, i.e. leftovers in the bottom of your cafetière from after you have made the coffee. I don’t know about using it, or tea, in it’s raw state straight from the packet but it’s probably ok to chuck on the compost heap.
@TheRainyGarden glad you are enjoying the roses and like Marie Pavie - a much underrated rose imo!
I’m not keen on tall roses in pots unless you have a grouping with bushier shrubs in front. The Prince is tall for me but it’s pot is behind Marie P so the bare legs are hidden.
@PeterAberdeen lots of ramblers and species roses for shade, but for larger blooms the two that immediately spring to mind in your preferred colour range are Buff Beauty (which I have) and Alchymist (which I don’t). I don’t know how Westerland does in shade..
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
@alexander.wade I have the generous gardener, it was planted in July 2021 and has been the slowest of all my roses, to the point where I’m wondering if it might not ever take off. It is in partial shade but should be ok there, I know others it is doing well for in similar conditions. It is a beautiful rose, I just don’t if it’s slow generally or if it’s me and my garden (more likely).
@agnasia - mine is fairly vigorous, despite being North facing. I'm sure yours will pick up this year.
Some roses (not necessarily varieties but just individual plants) do just grow slower with no obvious reason for it.
Speaking of which, I have a penstemon 'Raven' and that has not grown in two or three years. It just sits there.
A couple of months ago I was looking at it and pleased to see quite a lot of green healthy looking growth. Maybe this was finally going to be its year. But no it seems to have suffered in the cold, most of the growth has gone brown and what is there looks pale. However there does seem to be some new growth at the base, so maybe there's hope for it.
I have no clue what's going on with it. It was a decent 2L potted plant with a good root system. Planted in autumn, grew and flowered the next season. But then has done nothing but sit there looking sad ever since.
Not too squashed, growing in the same soil that other nearby plants (including other penstemon) are thriving in.
@WAMS, I can't remember what was it like Princess Charlene de Monaco's fragrance, I mean was it fruity, myhr etc. that kind of description. Only thing I remember is, it was nice but not as great as Abraham Darby. Later I felt they are different kind of roses and it was unfair to compare.
Hi @TheRainyGarden, I got mine from Henry St Nursery but it sold out very quickly (Oliver who works there is very courteous and helpful and will tell you if they will be selling it again). It can also be imported from Tuincentrum Lottum in Holland (but I haven't used them).
Yes @newbie77 I read it gets tall! Mine will be planted out when its roots are ready in early summer, can't wait. Do you like the scent? I also read it is rain tolerant which looks like an increasingly useful trait this year. You were worried about watering your plants while away but seems it may not be a problem if it goes on like this!
Yes, fingers crossed it will rain when I am away in summer. I have last couple of shrubs to plant out in garden. Then only hostas will be in pots. My Acer is in ground but in an exposed location.
My neighbour has kindly said she would water my houseplants. I will request her to water hostas and my loved Acer too.
Posts
I do have some thoughts, but I would rather not say them at the moment so as to get the group's honest and unbiased opinions. All of your advice, knowledge and garden pictures have lulled me into the loving arms of trust. You may or may not know your onions, but you do know your roses!
@TheRainyGarden glad you are enjoying the roses and like Marie Pavie - a much underrated rose imo!
I’m not keen on tall roses in pots unless you have a grouping with bushier shrubs in front. The Prince is tall for me but it’s pot is behind Marie P so the bare legs are hidden.
@PeterAberdeen lots of ramblers and species roses for shade, but for larger blooms the two that immediately spring to mind in your preferred colour range are Buff Beauty (which I have) and Alchymist (which I don’t). I don’t know how Westerland does in shade..
Some roses (not necessarily varieties but just individual plants) do just grow slower with no obvious reason for it.
Speaking of which, I have a penstemon 'Raven' and that has not grown in two or three years. It just sits there.
A couple of months ago I was looking at it and pleased to see quite a lot of green healthy looking growth. Maybe this was finally going to be its year. But no it seems to have suffered in the cold, most of the growth has gone brown and what is there looks pale. However there does seem to be some new growth at the base, so maybe there's hope for it.
I have no clue what's going on with it. It was a decent 2L potted plant with a good root system. Planted in autumn, grew and flowered the next season. But then has done nothing but sit there looking sad ever since.
Not too squashed, growing in the same soil that other nearby plants (including other penstemon) are thriving in.
Very odd.
But roses can do the same thing.
My neighbour has kindly said she would water my houseplants. I will request her to water hostas and my loved Acer too.