It isn't the soil that is going to make the own-roots bomb, but the climate. I don't know where you are coming from, but it sounds like you are moving north. You don't have to go too far north before you run into places that dieback roses aren't going to be able to handle the conditions. The summers aren't long enough or hot enough for the roses to grow back from the amount of winterkill they get.

Good to know gallica! For some reason I thought I read that, like rootstock, certain own roots prefer different soil pH along with other conditions. Thankfully I will be staying in zone 6b like our last house was in and have had no issues with own roots or grafted roses. Unfortunately some of the own roots are still not very strong growers. I wouldn't dare move to a colder environment, I wish my growing season was longer as it is! I don't know how you zone 5 and 4ers do it.

Thanks for the tip!

I also have slightly acidic soil, although it is heavy clay as well. I'm on the 6b/7a line. I can tell you which of my ownroot Austins don't do well own root here: Strawberry Hill, Leander, Geoff Hamilton, & Cordelia. If you're moving into slightly acidic soil, you may also look at getting some Austins grafted onto multiflora (Palatine & Hortico). My grafted ones seem to do very well compared to my own root ones...and I'm normally a fan of own root.

Tammy

I had to come back and add that you placed quite an order! you'll have a whole day of TRYING to get them out of the boxes haha! I love Roses Unlimited and just ordered 14 more myself, but their packing is a beast!

This post was edited by TNY78 on Sat, Jun 22, 13 at 21:11

Tammy and Seil, thank you very much for listing the ones that do work/not work for you. Definitely helps narrow down what I am ordering from where.

Tammy, have you had good luck from Hortico? I have loved Palatine but never tried Hortico from what I have heard. Too bad about Geoff Hamilton, he was on my list. Guess he will have to wait until bareroot season. Thanks for the packing tip too!

Seil, how big has your own root Golden Celebration grown? I see some huge ones on here but a lot of them are in much warmer zones.

You really need to include Molineux and either Shakespeare 2000 or Munstead Wood (depending on how large or small you want your dark purple-red to be). If you order from David Austin, they will come grafted on Dr. Huey. But my three Molineux came own-root from Chamblees and are doing fine.

Myself, I don't worry much, one way or another, about whether my roses are grafted, on what, own root, etc. Very occasionally I find out a rose is kinda wimpish and is own root, so I might deliberately go out of my way to find a grafted version (I'm not fussy on what)--or I might just settle for whatever is most convenient or cheapest. Mostly I wouldn't think too much about it either way.

Kate

Karolina, I know Hortico may have been bad in the past, but for the past three years that I've been ordering from them, they've been wonderful! Their plants are generally smaller than Palatine and Pickering, but if one is exceptionally small, they charge a reduced price. I ordered 17 this year, and every one was available to ship and was the correct variety. Really nice customer service people as well. There was a customs holdup when my order went to cross the US/Canadian boarder, and then UPS made an error, none of which was Horico's fault, but they stayed in constant touch with me regaurding the shipment. So if you do order, it is worth paying the additional cost for air freight. :)

Tammy

Most of the 36 roses in my DA garden are on their own roots ... now that I think of it, I'm pretty sure they all are. Anyway, as of yesterday, there are some pretty stellar performers that aren't talked about much.

The star of the show is 'Sir Clough'. It reminds me of 'Carefree Beauty' somewhat, but the foliage is better, the habit is better, and the flowers are a warmer, more pleasing shade of hot pink. Visitors rarely fail to mention that "wonderful dark pink rose in your Austin Garden."

'Comte de Champagne' is beside 'Sir Clough'. It's a soft yellow (similar to Buff Beauty's color), low petal count, cupped flowers, very disease resistant.

'Bow Bells' was planted directly into the garden as a band in October 2011. It is now 5' tall, dense, and super vigorous and healthy.

'Marinette' was planted in 2012, also as a band without nursing it in a pot. Rooted it myself from a cutting. It is doing beautifully.

Those are the ones that I can remember off the top of my head. Sometimes, the only way to know that a rose will work for you in your garden under your growing conditions is to just buy it and see what happens. This is how some of my most favorite lucky accidents have happened.

Congratulations on your new home!

Kate, great to know about Molineaux as that one is on the top of my list. Which one gets bigger for you - WS2000 or Munstead Wood? Is there a significant difference in bloom repetition or are they both good there?

Tammy, thanks for the information on Hortico. I will have to try them this year, especially if Pickering is still not available to us.

Hartwood, thank you for the suggestions! I have not seen a lot of information on a few of those so that helps to hear. I also plant bands straight into the ground (I travel a lot so can't always be around to water pots as frequently as needed) so your suggestions are very valuable to me. Definitely have to go look for 'Comte de Champagne' this asap.

Thank you everyone!

I'm in Tyrone Pa (Central Pa). I did not have much luck
with outta the blue or easy does it... They blackspotted badly here. (no spray)...
But your strain of BS may be different in your area...?

I can't help you with info on roses, but just wanted to say how happy I am for you. It sounds as though you got everything you wanted in a home, and beginning a new garden is always so exciting.

Ingrid