It's that time of year when we rose growers (rosarians) put on our rose warrior gloves and have a gay old time with our ancient but trusty Felco secateurs.
(Don't neglect to sharpen them for clean healthy cuts.)
Pruning roses does require some expertise...
cutting wildly and willy nilly just does not cut it, pardon the pun.
Slim Paley recently posted an image on facebook of one of her roses after it was pruned...she is a hard pruner.
Many of my gardener friends prune hard, I am timid.
I follow the 3 D rules for rose pruning:
Prune for DESIGN (shape)
DEAD wood must go as well as any DISEASED stalks.
that's the basics and of course one needs to cut on the correct angles which you can read about more
here.
Jude The Obscure
a David Austin variety rose
my all time favourite
apricot turning to blush
repeat bloomer
heavy fragrance
grows quite large
prolific bloomer
Growing roses rather gets under ones skin
its starts out quite innocently and then before you know it you are ordering catalogues
seeking out the finest varieties
some old, some new
and are always on the look out for more.
More is more when it comes to roses.
I have always got a space in The Humble Bungalow garden for another rose!
I asked Slim for her favourite rose and she gave me three
Sterling
Yves Piaget
Golden Mustard
I googled these roses and funny thing...Golden Mustard images were Slim's own!
I've ordered my David Austin catalogue and hope to choose a new rose.
I have specific requirements when I buy a rose...
it must be a repeat bloomer
be heavily scented
have deep cups of multiple petals
and grow in a garden which has clay soil.
Abraham Darby
reliable and such an intoxicating fragrance
an old rose
(I forget it's name)
thorny stems compact shallow cups
bourbon scent
Jacob's coat
a climbing variety
masses of blooms
and the rose turns many colours!
Constance Spry
a stalwart among roses
give her a structure to grow upon and she will ingratiate herself
Climbing Royal Sunset
another fabulous rose
this one is a hearty variety that is not deterred by the salty ocean breezes.
If you grow roses
you must bring them inside to admire and enjoy.
I couldn't resist showing you another image of Jude!
Is this not a beauty?
I am smitten.
Gertrude Jekyll Rose
Did you know that roses love epsom salts?
Sprinkle a handfull around their roots once a month and water well
from spring through summer and they will reward you with their blooms.
This rose was new last year and is getting established...
our clay soil has been mulched heavily by my garden helper Bobby
and I am hoping that this will make it easier for roses to get their roots well and truly stuck in.
what's nicer in the home than a vase of roses ?
name escapes me and there is no tag on the rose
this one is better left in the garden as it wilts so quickly after picking
the bees just love it!
If you have never grown roses please do not be intimidated
they are reliable provided you give them the basics
they are heavy feeders so give them some quality soil and compost
and water them well
avoid watering at night as black spot likes it when the foliage is damp
early morning is best.
I received my first rose back in the 1980's
The Peace rose was a gift from a Victoria Rosarian who took all the awards and trophy's at the annual show.
Vi said if you want to grow a rose plant it, feed and water it...nurture and tend it like a child.
That Peace rose flourished and I won my only trophy for best bloom in show the year I entered it.
Rose growers are always happy to share their knowledge and love to show off their plants.
Join a garden club and you'll find the most interesting people!
Their garden sales are full of garden cuttings and plants for next to nothing.
The
VHS motto is share what you know and show what you grow.
I hope that I have inspired you to think about roses today.
Take care and thank you for stopping by!
Hostess
