What is the difference between a floribunda rose and a hybrid tea?
A floribunda rose has a long flowering period, a mass of blooms on each shoot but the individual flowers are generally rather loosely formed and may have little perfume. A hybrid tea has a single flower on each shoot, generally of fuller form and having more perfume. We have wide range of both types in our catalogue , along with many other rose varieties too.
What is the difference between a climber and a rambler?
The distinction is slightly blurred but generally ramblers flower once in early summer, and the old flowering shoots are then of no further use and should be cut out. Climbers may flower for longer and bear heir flowers on side branches of the main stem. Only these side-branches should be cut out after flowering. We have wide range of both types in our catalogue , along with many other rose varieties too
Which are the best roses for hedges?
Many low growing shrub roses make good hedges but I especially recommend the Rugosa varieties.
Is it true that new roses shouldn't be planted in an old rose bed?
In general, yes. The reason is because of the likely presence in the soil of a problem known as rose replant disease or rose sickness.
The symptom is a failure of the plants to establish satisfactorily in the first season and gradually to decline in vigour thereafter. The reason is not fully understood, but it is certainly more complex than the exhaustion of nutrients that lies behind the general gardening practice of crop rotation. There are two main ways around the problem. Either rest the bed from roses for two or three years to give the organisms time to die away (they seem to be specific to roses and will not survive on other plants), or replace some of the soil - for each new rose, dig a hole about 45 cm (18 inches) deep and of a similar diameter and refill it with fresh soil from a part of the garden that has not previously grown roses.
When is the best time of year to prune roses?
In general, I recommend performing the bulk of the pruning in March although long, whip-like shoots should may be cut back in autumn as they will otherwise be blown around and weaken the plant.
How important is dead-heading for keeping roses healthy and attractive?
It is very important and should be done routinely, nipping back the dead head to just above the first leaves. The only exceptions are those roses like some of the Rugosa varieties that form attractive hips in autumn.
My climbing rose persistently flowers at the top only. What can I do to persuade it to flower at the base as well?
Untie the rose from the wall and pull down the long upright growths until their tips are at or just below the horizontal. Tie them into this position and flowers will be produce along the length. If you arrange all of the shoots in this way, the wall will be covered ladder fashion and you will have flowers from top to bottom.
The plant is displaying apical dominance in which the buds at the tips of the shoots grow and produce a chemical that causes the lower buds to remain dormant. Precisely the same effect will be seen on apple trees if the branch leaders and laterals are not cut back to some extent in winter - leaves and fruit will form at the tips of these shoots while a length of unproductive stem will remain below.
Why do some of the flower buds on my roses fail to open properly?
This is a common occurrence in some seasons and on some varieties. It is known as balling, for the half opened bloom becomes a ball-like, rather wet and brown mass. It tends be more frequent on those varieties with thin petals and normally occurs in rainy weather or, quite commonly, towards the end of the season as the weather cools and early morning dews become commoner.
Incorrect feeding will help predispose blooms to balling; use a balanced rose fertiliser twice each season, first after the spring pruning and then again in early summer after the first flush of flowers. A severe infestation of aphids on the young buds also appears able to cause sufficient damage to prevent the flowers from opening properly. Once the unopened flowers have been damaged in this way, the grey mould fungus Botrytis will very soon establish itself on them and bring about the browning and decay. To some extent this can be lessened by the routine fungicide spraying against mildew but normally, once the young bloom has become really wet, little can be done to resuscitate it.
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