A Thorny Issue

Whatever your opinion of roses, there’s no denying that this flower is the epitome of traditional English gardening, and maybe for some that’s just the problem. For some people the memories of insipid flowers sitting above leggy stalks and diseased leaves is enough to put them off ever planting another rose bush again.

Classified as a woody perennial, with over a hundred species it is still by far one of Britain’s favourite plants. Native to China, the humble rose grows well in our climate, where the cool moist winters and warm (ish) summers mean that as long as we don’t experience too much rain (which can cause petals to fuse together before fully opening) plants should live happily for many years.

That said they are not ‘forever plants’ and should not be held on to for sentimental reasons. I’ve removed no end of beds planted up in the 60’s with nothing more than clumps of baked clay soil as their companion.

Roses are best planted bare root between November and February but are most often purchased containerised when in flower during the summer months. If well watered in their first year, roses planted this way should establish well. Plant slightly deeper than you think you need, burying the graft (woody knuckle) fractionally below the soil.

Humans are not the only admirers of roses and they can suffer from numerous pests and diseases so prepare yourself for battle. Problems include; brown scale, rose aphids, rose leaf-rolling sawfly, rose dieback, rose powdery mildew, rose blackspot and rose rust. That said there are disease-resistant varieties, and prevention is always better than cure. If planted in good soil (they don’t mind heavy clay) and in a well prepared hole with some homemade compost or manure, then fed in March with a special rose fertiliser before another layer of compost or manure is placed on top, and watered well they will provide you with a long lasting combination of colour and scent.

For added interest, why not grow two varieties together which complement each other, or flower at different times for lengthier impact.

On a sunny wall try; Rosa ‘Blush Noisette’, a great repeat flowerer with small double pink flowers, ‘Lady Waterlow’ for silky pink blooms and healthy foliage, ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ for exquisite scent, or ‘Etoile de Hollande’ for a splash of rich scarlet red.

Ground cover roses such as the ‘flower carpet range’ are great for covering banks and are extremely low maintenance, or try an avenue of standard roses such as ‘Winchester Cathedral’ which look fabulous when under planted with lavender or lush low growing evergreens. Finally for a wonderful thornless variety try Rosa ‘Mortimer Sackler’.

Happy gardening

Lee

Contact Lee Bestall at www.inspiredgardens.net
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