Roses Help Needed
I am sure there is masses of Rose pruning guidance previously on the forum but I have 2 specific queries that you lovely folk might be able to help me with.
Firstly, is there a way of differentiating hybrid teas from floribundas before they are in flower? I have been trying to create a rose garden and I religiously keep all my plant labels for everything but over the xmas break I had a huge tidy up and got myself really organised ... So organised that I can't find my labels now! Honestly, when I have time on my hands I am dangerous! Anyway, pruning season will be approaching and, as I'm still learning and I'm not sure what I'm doing with roses at the best of times, but without knowing what they are, I'm doomed.
Question 2 has 2 parts; I think my rose garden does not get quite enough sunshine hours to thrive and I am considering moving it. It gets some, and the roses flowered quite well, but they seem a bit leggy to me. a) Would this be the result of not enough sun (or maybe not pruned properly) and b) how deep are rose roots? The alternative site for the rose garden sits on top of some hard archaeology and I'm concerned the roots won't have enough depth.
Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Posts
Morning Ash, I dont know the answer to Q1 but the easiest help iv found so far nice and simple is this one from The Rose Garden, I hope it helps with parts of your other Qs good luck. http://www.garden-roses.co.uk/faqs/
cold but sunny erein Muns,N,Norfolk
Right question 1, no you can't really tell the difference between them in winter, UNLESS you've not touched them since flowering, there may be clues at the top of the bushes if the faded flowers are still there. Hybrid T' will have a single flower head, floribunda's multiple heads left. Otherwise you won't have a clue. Roses go leggy if they aren't prune correctly, hard pruning is beneficial to all roses including climbers as new stems produce the best flowers.
Question 2, the more sun you give roses the better they like it, but 3-4 hrs a day is adequate, although some of my roses get a lot less and still thrive, It's more to do with keeping them well fed and watered than anything. Roses aren't deep rooted, unless they are very old, 18 inches of soil is fine. Roses can even thrive with poor drainage as long as they are fed well
Thanks so much to both of you.
Alan I will be reading with interest the link you've provided. I need all the help I can get with roses.
Dave - I will be having a go at hard pruning the roses, as you suggest, in their current position. And given your advice about the root depth, I am going to plant more in the alternative location. You can never have too many roses, can you.
thanks