21,401 Garden Web Discussions | Roses

I was given some HTs which I planted and eventually SP'd because of horrible blackspot. Years later I got a Dr Huey, which I believe came from one of them. Unless, of course, it came from my Abe Darby which is close by, has been in the ground for about 30 years. Who knows...

This is fascinating. I've gardened all my life, and grown roses since 2004 and I like to think I'm pretty knowledgeable but I have a lot to learn. I may re-think the grafted roses approach in the future. The suckers I found yesterday from the shovel pruned Alba Maximas were very large. Thicker than a pencil and very deep. I purchased these plants several years ago from David Austin Roses. Grafted onto Dr Huey, they were simply enormous in size and grew with great vigor. I think I can expect a lot more of these things in the future. Thanks everyone for your responses.

Mrs. B.R.C gets much larger than BD in my garden. BD is bushy all the way to the ground and extremely healthy. No bare ankles here. She's on Fortuniana here. As they say, YMMV. Natchithoches Noisette, own root, is a beautifully rounded, healthy four foot rose here. Is Zone 6 too cold for Noisettes?

You might also try Rugosas. They are nearly maintenance free. They will take the cold, many are nearly continuous bloomers if it doesn't get too hot, don't need to be sprayed, and most have good autumn color and lovely hips. Many also sucker, so if you are looking for a 'hedge' they will grow into it easily.
Hybrid Musks and Polyanthas have more the knock-out look, but you want to be careful on size, as many of the HMs can get quite large and the Polys can be very small. Both will handle zone 6.
Hybrid Teas and Floribundas require more work and are less cold hardy even on grafts.




Thank you, Henry! That was really a neat interview with Bill Radler right there in his home/work set up. It was amazing that he has accomplished so much with just a basement and 2 acres. He has a beautiful home as well. (I can't get over his 2 story sun room.)
But anyway, the best part is knowing there are hybridizers like Mr. Radler out there, who could rest on his laurels but is continuing to actively pursue better (healthier) beautiful roses!


This may be a silly question, but does the alfalfa attract more rabbits? I have a large problem with rabbits already (one: because they eat my roses, two: because my dogs like to kill them) and I'm wondering if it would increase the problem, but I'd really like to try it!
Tammy



Rhapsody in Blue would be great in San Fran. It hates heat, so you're in just about the perfect climate for it. I have fog here in my coastal canyon in SoCal, that it loves. Stormy Weather would also be nice, as would Purple Splash (if she likes stripes). All do well in your clime, and none of the three gets any significant mildew. That's a six foot wrought iron fence in this pic of Rhapsody in Blue:


I forgot to mention Blue Bayou. It was about 6 feet when I cut it way back a few days ago. Its blooms are a beautiful bluish lavender, but they shrivel in our hot dry summer heat. I'll bet it would do better in your climate. But it is gorgeous in spring and fall for us. Diane



Lux, Banksiae "Snowflake" is the name the nurseries have applied to plain old Fortuniana. When you find Snowflake at places like Home Depot and Lowe's, you get Fortuniana.
You should also look at Banksiae lutescens, the single yellow Banksiae. Both doubles are flowering and nearing their end here. Lutescens has already flowered and is pushing new flower clusters as it did last year. Not a "repeat", but a continuation of the first flush. It has a scent I can detect which neither double form possesses. When I collect a jar of anthers for pollen, their dried scent is a very strong clove. Kim








Thanks, Seil,
Will follow your advice.
Thanks everyone else for your imput!
Seil's advice to prune to white pith is correct for young canes of hybrid teas.
The OP asked when to fertilize. There is no point in fertilizing until there are green leaves to utilize the nutrients. Be sure not to exceed labeled doses of fertilizer, and if you are using more than one kind of fertilizer, reduce doses accordingly. (Labeled doses are always on the generous side.) If you overfertilized last season, there should be plenty of nutrients left over except for nitrogen. Available nitrogen is transient in the soil, so N needs to be applied every year, in several small doses if you are using a fast nitrogen source. By contrast, excess phosphate can build up harmfully in the soil if you keep applying more than is needed.