I'm a complete novice in all things garden but we have recently moved into a new house with a huge untamed garden and I will now fully admit I have caught the rose bug big time. I found this forum and have been gobbling up some of the threads seeking advice and ideas. And I just wanted to say hi and pick a few brains.

In a big bed in the front garden that we thought was all weeds is a very scraggly bush rose. I cut it back quite a bit and while still very mottoes and black in places (there has been nothing done to the garden in around 8 years). I now realise I didn't cut it back far enough but I had no idea what I was doing! I have d it nd deadheaded and the poor wee thing has thrown out a surprising mount of gorgeous yellow flowers despite the bush looking decidedly unwell! But the flowers are so bright and gorgeous and constant, there has been at least one bloom there since June, well, I'm hooked!

I now have planted 3 climbers, two shrubs and two ramblers including a rambling rector (my aunt just laughed when she heard that so I'm a little scared) I don't know what the other white rambler is, it was a bargain bin rescue to cover an oil tank, but it's growing crazily!

My favourite is an Austin Tess of the d'urbervilles which bloomed beautifully but now appears to have rust? Nd no sign of repeat flowers- I have sprayed it but wondered if anyone has any advice for that.

Two of the climbers for over an archway (my 3year olds choice) Handel (I think) is doing brilliantly but my 5 year old is gutted because the zepherine Drouhin she picked to climb her side of the arch must have been mislabelled because it is white and when I look at the growth I think it is a shrub not a climber :-( I huge disappointment when you are five and wants a vibrant pink. can I move this without killing it? Is there a good time to do this etc? And what about replanting a climbe in the same spot; suddenly realised I need to fear replanting in the same spot?

I'm in Northern Ireland so we're talking very wet but rarely overly hot in summer (ok last week is the exception where we all nearly melted) or too cold in winter (eat this winter we didn't go below freezing). So are there any tips I should follow or types I should avoid? Husband despairing because we are putting in a big bed at the front and really all I want to plant in it are roses now!! I will however be restraint but might put in a couple of standard roses? Or a couple of rose pillars? (We're tight on cash so this is a few years worth of project but a girl can dream) does anyone have particular recommendations for standards or are they difficult for a newbie? What about rose pillars? Any suggestions, advice or just general rose adoring welcomed.

Thanks in advance!

Mandocino rose, thank you for that link-I shall pour over that later!! I have been checking size, (amazed at how big roses can get!!) the ones I have are 2-3ft shrubs- should be ok for where I have put my first few. That's why the mysterious 'not zephirine Drouhin' is a bit of a worry...

I've planted the rambling rector at the base of a large beech tree so I'll see if all I've heard about it is true!!

The big bed we are planning, however will be able to house something considerably bigger than what I now have so I need to do my research and see what I fancy and think will work. What are your favourites?

BTW, did I tell you, I know nothing about raising roses, but that's the way I'd move it..... lol

The Zeffy is a good choice.... I have over 30 of them. Thornless so being around kids you don't have to worry about them getting stuck.

Welcome aboard, you will enjoy this forum as you can get some great advise.

Toolbelt.....

For your yellow one, you can cut out dead wood at any time. So just take out any black canes. Otherwise just keep it weeded, watered and fertilized and just dead head the spent blooms just below the hips. That will give it a chance to grow out where it wants to and you'll get a better Idea of how it grows naturally.

Tess is a beauty! If you wish to you can spray for the rust but I can't suggest anything because I don't know what would be available in Ireland. Ask at a nursery for a good fungicide that works for rust. As for not blooming I'm not sure. Lack of sun will slow down rebloom. Is it putting on ANY new growth at all? Maybe since it's very new it's concentrating on the root ball?

Rambling Rector is a BIG one so I hope you gave it lots of room. Sorry about your little one's disappointment. It's not uncommon for the cheapie bagged roses to be mislabeled. You can move it to another spot and replace it with a good healthy Zephy in the same spot. There does seem to be a bigger problem with replant syndrome in Europe than there is here in the States but since you just planted that other one so recently I don't think it would be any problem. I would check with some good local nurseries or online to find a Zephy you can trust to be the correct rose.

Standards will depend on your winters. Because the grafts are at the top of a tall trunk, and the graft is the part that needs winter protection, you may not be able to winter them there in the ground successfully. Not knowing anything about how bad your winters are I couldn't say for sure. To do some kind of pillars you would need structures for them to grow on. That could be quite pretty though.

I hope I answered some of your questions but, please, don't hesitate to ask more!

And yes, do a lot of research on what you want, plan for next year now. Many of us get so excited and just buy a bunch of pretty roses and then have to move them at a later date.

Some roses have one name here in the U.S. -- and a different name in the UK. That's another place where HelpMeFind will save you, because they do cross-reference names.

See link, below:

Toolbelt, I reckon you are right, I just have to bite the bullet and dig it up. Think I have located a spot to put the "not Zephy" where it can happily grown anyway it wants. I am fairly confident it is not a climber, in fact I reckon it is going to be a medium sized bush (cut to this time next year when I have an escaping 20ft giant on my hands!)

Seil - I got a spray that claims to treat rust I had hoped not to have to use it but she really is in a bad way, our Tess! Only a few wee miserable shoots appearing out. Not like the three other new plants nearby in very similar conditions that do seem to be going great! The "Not Zephy" was from a very reputable nursery so we are not overly amused! Though, (and here is where I think I am going to fit right in on here) It does kinda mean I get to pick another for that spot.... Zephy is a clear fave but will check out Don Juan (thanks for the rec!) *laughs like a loon*

Also thanks for the Paul Zimmerman links - those videos are fab!! And...is it really bad that I just got the David Austin catalogue and am using it as my bed time reading...with a highlighter...

So good to meet you all! I'm probably going to drive you nuts with questions etc!!

Once I reabsorbed a book on Classic Roses I bought back in the 80's, I mined Amazon deep for .01 used books and pick a quartet. Also got a couple from a used bookstore. So winter reading is set.

My rose foray thus far, has been a couple of rustling expeditions even though it's a bit late in the season. I'm using my veggie grow-shelf lights to see if I can get some cutting to take root of some wilds I found and my neighbor's Rugosa (probably a hybrid). I love to propogate, but roses always eluded me in the past.

Good Luck!
Sounds like you're off to a great start!

Seil, you have a point but the rose has been in the ground about 4 months now and has only just bloomed so I only just realised that it was wrong, proof of purchase is long gone...sigh. However, it does mean I might have to get my five year old a zeffie...so I'm not going to let it get me too down...

Husband threatening to hide the David Austin catalogue now!! ;-)