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Rose in a poor environment

Erica68Erica68 Posts: 65
in Problem solving
I have two roses that don't do well. They are 3 and 4 years old. I have a Bulgarian handyman and he grew up on a rose farm in Bulgaria. He tells me that my roses are growing in a poor environment and do not get enough sun. So either I improve their environment or I take them on a holiday to Bulgaria. First food of the year I am told should be phosphorus. I have got TOMORITE and Miracle Gro Rose and Shrub continuous release plant food. Will either of these fit the bill or should I buy something else? Incidentally the bad environment is a small inner city garden with heavy clay soil, north facing and little air circulation due to high fences and high building.

Posts

  • Chrissy the gardenerChrissy the gardener Posts: 1,072

    Roses like clay so that should not be a worry and you can get specific roses for North facing aspects,why don't you go onto something like the David Austin site and you should be able to see a list of roses for North facing aspects.

  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,697
    Roses can do very well in containers if you feed them (and now is the time to throw on some rose food). I have one that has been in a large pot for years and it is in a shady position with just a meagre amount of sun every day. Perhaps that would be the way to go if your soil is really not friendly to roses.
  • Erica68Erica68 Posts: 65
    Thank you for the advice. My roses come from David Austen but I did not choose them very carefully. My garden is so small there is no where to move them and everything else is doing OK especially the Kew from David Austen of which I have 3 in a small bed and they are glorious. So I will potash the roses and feed them very well for one more year. If I have to give up on them I will choose more carefully next time and as I will not be able to put a rose where there was recently a rose then I will put one in a large pot. I actually fancy having one in a pot on wheels so I can chase the sun round my little garden. Thanks again.
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