Bare root direct from DA take a few years to establish in my experience. The potted roses sold in GC's are better value in my opinion. However, I'm increasingly finding many GC's don't either prune or look after their roses properly. So I dig about, find the worst looking rose and knowing I can rescue it ask for a discount at the till. If they don't say yes I leave it. DA's customer service needs a firm hand, being polite about it doesn't work very well on the whole, they do need to improve substantially. They do advertise, 'plant now for glorious summer blooms'. Well that rarely happens with bare root, it takes two years minimum. However once they really establish then they are worth the money. But shop around many of his roses are available elsewhere and cheaper too.
I planted 3 DA roses last November (bare root), a friend had said I was wasting my money and there was much better choice on the market at lower prices and better quality, so I was a little concerned, but the ones I had chosen were exactly what I wanted for a certain spot so I took a chance.
Anyway, they flowered all summer, one is still flowering now actually, and they have been disease free and grown really well, looking healthy and happy. The scent on one in particular is not as strong as I hoped for, but we had a very long period of hot dry weather which was probably a bit too hot for such young roses and the heads of one were so big and heavy it did tend to face the ground rather disappointingly.
I have given them an awful lot of TLC and the ground was well prepared beforehand so they have had the VIP treatment. I have other roses in the garden that have done equally as well that are not DA but they are more established. I am hoping my new DA ones will do just as well in the future.
I would think getting the right rose for the conditions is the most important thing and then looking after it accordingly.
this autumn and cannot fault their customer service, very helpful, made some extra enquiries for me and got back to me quickly and even though they couldn't do what I asked (it was a delivery matter). They said they would rather say no than promise me something they may or may not be able to do and disappoint me. I felt I got a very personal caring service from them and would recommend them highly.
“Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
I bought a DA generous gardener potted in October, with micro fungi and P+P cost nearly £30 so wasn't cheap. But I must say it was in perfect condition lovely plant. I didnt buy bare root for the same reason Dave said.
I cant say it was worth it yet, but I was very impressed with the condition of the rose.
I was originally buying locally but nearly everyone rose I came across was coverd in black spot.
Personally, I would find buying a container rose from Oct-April a complete waste of the extra expense incurred. In fact if I did so, I would remove all the compost from the pot and plant it bare root, but as always, it's your choice.
I like to wander round GC when their roses are in bloom. You can then have a sniff and perhaps spot any incipient problems. Pick one you like and buy it wherever it suits you .
I grow Lady Emma Hamilton and Darcy Bussell, both have a lovely scent and their growth rate has been as good as floribunda roses. I do find them far more prone to black spot than my other roses..
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Bare root direct from DA take a few years to establish in my experience. The potted roses sold in GC's are better value in my opinion. However, I'm increasingly finding many GC's don't either prune or look after their roses properly. So I dig about, find the worst looking rose and knowing I can rescue it ask for a discount at the till. If they don't say yes I leave it. DA's customer service needs a firm hand, being polite about it doesn't work very well on the whole, they do need to improve substantially. They do advertise, 'plant now for glorious summer blooms'. Well that rarely happens with bare root, it takes two years minimum. However once they really establish then they are worth the money. But shop around many of his roses are available elsewhere and cheaper too.
I think this one is a lovely rose
http://www.classicroses.co.uk/products/roses/francis-elester/
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I planted 3 DA roses last November (bare root), a friend had said I was wasting my money and there was much better choice on the market at lower prices and better quality, so I was a little concerned, but the ones I had chosen were exactly what I wanted for a certain spot so I took a chance.
Anyway, they flowered all summer, one is still flowering now actually, and they have been disease free and grown really well, looking healthy and happy. The scent on one in particular is not as strong as I hoped for, but we had a very long period of hot dry weather which was probably a bit too hot for such young roses and the heads of one were so big and heavy it did tend to face the ground rather disappointingly.
I have given them an awful lot of TLC and the ground was well prepared beforehand so they have had the VIP treatment. I have other roses in the garden that have done equally as well that are not DA but they are more established. I am hoping my new DA ones will do just as well in the future.
I would think getting the right rose for the conditions is the most important thing and then looking after it accordingly.
I have been having some dealings with http://www.classicroses.co.uk/products/roses/
this autumn and cannot fault their customer service, very helpful, made some extra enquiries for me and got back to me quickly and even though they couldn't do what I asked (it was a delivery matter). They said they would rather say no than promise me something they may or may not be able to do and disappoint me. I felt I got a very personal caring service from them and would recommend them highly.
DD, Classic Roses are great aren't they? A proper family firm with a great reputations and more Gold Medals than I can shake a stick at
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Absolutely agree Dove - I think I went to them from your recommendation originally and you weren't wrong.
I bought a DA generous gardener potted in October, with micro fungi and P+P cost nearly £30 so wasn't cheap. But I must say it was in perfect condition lovely plant. I didnt buy bare root for the same reason Dave said.
I cant say it was worth it yet, but I was very impressed with the condition of the rose.
I was originally buying locally but nearly everyone rose I came across was coverd in black spot.
Personally, I would find buying a container rose from Oct-April a complete waste of the extra expense incurred. In fact if I did so, I would remove all the compost from the pot and plant it bare root, but as always, it's your choice.
I like to wander round GC when their roses are in bloom. You can then have a sniff and perhaps spot any incipient problems. Pick one you like and buy it wherever it suits you .
I grow Lady Emma Hamilton and Darcy Bussell, both have a lovely scent and their growth rate has been as good as floribunda roses. I do find them far more prone to black spot than my other roses..