22,153 Garden Web Discussions | Roses
I use a mixed approach to pruning our roses --
With roses, I use a power trimmer gently, with an eye to creating a natural shape. It's a useful tool at times for cutting a shrub down to size. Afterward, you can refine the haircut. OTOH, hand pruning is just about as quick and cleanup is not as messy.
The tall Knockout tree roses are pruned with a long, gas-powered articulated hedge trimmer, followed by selective hand trimming. These bushes are not heavily pruned, but rather lightly trimmed to maintain the desired shape.
Most of the other mature Knockouts get pruned with non-power hedge clippers and hand trimmers. Occasionally, if I think I'm in a rush, I use the power trimmer.
All other roses -- HTs, shrubs, climbers, OGRs -- are pruned by hand.
no direct sunlight
thanks anyway
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/houseplt/msg0114554324859.html
Plumerias-lover, the patent status of a rose doesn't have anything to do with how good a garden plant it will be, so don't let that influence your choices.
Here's a definition if you scroll down the page to find it.
Here is a link that might be useful: patent vs. non-patent roses
Apols for hopeless posting-computer died and am using sons tablet
Bright as a button - a great rosé but very small flowered and totally healthy.It does not look very rose-like though - the combination of tiny blooms and many glossy leaves looks much more reminiscent of some other flowering shrub
I don't see your two issues as a reason for replacing roses. Most of the roses people want have thorns. Mildew isn't a big problem compared to others.
People replace roses because they are bored with them, they aren't performing well or are diseased. If you like what you have why go to all the work of replacing them.
Are you looking for roses that don't require any spraying? Some people use cloud cover to fight mildew.
I'm sure other posters will be abe to provide recommendations for thornless or mildew resistant roses.
My recommendation is, if you have never tested your soils, you should at least once take a soil sample & send it off to a professional lab for testing. Have them test for N-P-K & pH (usually the basic test) and add on the secondary nutrients Ca-Mg-S. I think the main thing you should pay attention to is pH since pH imbalance can cause certain nutrients to be unavailable in your soil even if they are present. A too high or low pH causes some nutrients to be in insoluble in water & therefore unavailable to your roses (see chart scan below). I'm not a fan of home test kits because the reagents (test chemicals) in them are easily degraded by many environmental conditions...aging, high & low temps, sunlight, humidity. I remember a "Fine Gardening" article & "The Victory Garden" TV show both gave them a thumbs down. I'm also adding a scan of an "chlorosis" chart that will help you look at your plants to see if they are showing signs of a nutrient deficiency.
This post was edited by wirosarian on Tue, Dec 31, 13 at 22:38
redwolfdoc, I'm going to add one other thing that makes me suspicious of the results from your home test kit. You said the results showed you were "low to adequate" in phosphorous (P). Most of the info I have come across says that northern soils (since you are in z5, I would consider you on the lower end of northern) have high to excessive levels of P. My own professional soil tests in z4b show high to excessive levels of P.
Ah, Ballin' Auguste! as he was known around here long ago. I didn't think that one was available any more. Dozens upon dozens upon dozens of buds that never opened, no matter what the weather. Had a heavenly scent and a s--tload of rust. May you have much better luck than I did.
'Francois Rabelais' is a winner, though. Most excellent disease resistance and never stingy, stays a reasonable size.
Thanks to FarmerD for answering the fragrance ? on CPM - and I totally agree. Very fruity, but a bit of musk also. I should say that I have a very hard time describing rose fragrances, but I do know what smells really, really nice and CPM has IT! At least, for me it does. I can't wait for spring here so I can see what she's going to do.
LynnT
Diane, that's what I've been trying to figure out and is my main concern. Some gardening sites say she is hardy in Zone 6, but I wanted to see if there was anybody here if they or someone they knew of growing a Lady Banks in zone 6.
Brad AKA Moonwolf
I've seen Lady Banks in zone 6 - zone 6 Arizona. Its not at all like an eastern zone 6. It gets cold at night, but then warms up a lot during the day. Snow doesn't melt so much as disappear.
If the real question is whether or not it will survive, of course I don't think it will. Maybe it could make it through a mild winter or two, but it blooms on old wood, and isn't going to be more than a curiosity. However, there are more than enough people who have to see that for themselves.
Wow it must be the different areas we all grow roses in. Some of my best roses are on the evil list. Tournament of Roses and Just Joey, which would not stop blooming. One of my favorites is not on the not so great list, Gertrude Jeckell. Her color and scent are wonderful; but too many thorns to deal with any more. I am not as patient as I become older!
Lol, you just asked the $64,000.00 question! Because they only hear the hype and are scared away. So they never try them for themselves to see that they aren't the prima donas they're touted as. In truth, they are no more or less work than any other perennial in your garden. They need sunlight, water, fertilizer now and again and a pruning about once a year. The same things most people do for their hydrangeas, lilacs, peonies, iris, azaleas and hostas, etc., etc. In fact, when you think about it, your lawn requires more care than roses do!
And people have much too high expectations when they purchase a rose. They expect to see those florist shop perfect roses in their garden. Unrealistic! Those roses are force grown in unnatural conditions that no one can duplicate in a garden setting. And they are meticulously groomed! So people are set up to fail and be disappointed. Hence the myth that roses are so hard to grow.
If you purchase the right roses for your area and don't expect them to look florist shop perfect you'll be much happier and enjoy them more for years to come.
My bloomed so much 15 buds were killed by snow. it wouldn't quit! The hardest thing I do is spray them with Milk water and kill rose slugs. That just gives me a reason to be outside! I love it that's why I love roses. (Also they took out a greenhouse full of roses for a pop eyes grrrr)