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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (click on these links to go straight
to a specific section) What are popular choices for roses? What
good perfumed rosed can I grow? How
often should I water my roses? Taking
cuttings is an easy way to increase the numbers of your favourite roses. How
far apart should I plant my roses?
How
can I make my roses last longer in the vase? What
are popular choices for roses? Some roses are big robust growers, like Alexander, with big fat canes; others such as Blue Moon have finer canes. They still should be strong and vigorous. The National Rose Society has a Top 20 from marks awarded by about 50 reports throughout the country. It seems to take a few years for new varieties to earn themselves a place on the list. The guide is well worthwhile to the uninitiated of all round worthwhile varieties. The top three Hybrid teas have not changed much from year to year. Check
out these: Elina (a pale yellow) this
has taken supreme spot in recent times as a magnificent rose, vigorous grower,
quite resistant to disease with large continuously flowering blooms over the
whole bush. Loving
Memory (a rich red, like a good wine) slipped from number one spot after
several years. Auckland
Metro (creamy white blooms with a powerful fragrance) a new comer to this
level. Old timers are Peace,
released some 60 years ago; First Love
(1961) and Just Joey a blowsey yellow
orange that fills a vase inside the house.
In the floribundas (clustered flowered bush roses) try the top two for
the last five years, Raspberry Ice (a pink and cream bi-coloured) and Margaret
Merrill (a soft white with a huge scent) Sexy
Rexy (a soft pink) has slipped to third but makes a statement in colour in a
bed.
Climbers have Dublin Bay reigning supreme for the last five years.
Miniatures there’s Minnie Pearl and Ground Cover White
Flower Carpet.
What are good perfumed roses to grow?Margaret
Merrill (a
white rose with many flowers clustered on the head), and Aotearoa
(soft pink) are two roses that have a strong scent. Many of the English roses are also strongly scented. How often should I water my roses?Discourage
pests and diseases by watering only early morning. Wet the surrounding soil best done by a soak hose.
Watering depends on how quickly your soil dries out.
During a period of dry weather without rain for a week usually means that
a watering programme should begin. Taking
cuttings is an easy way to increase the numbers of your favourite roses. Choose
vigorous canes that have lost their first blooms. Cut off the top 15cm above an
eye. Cut the canes to about 20cm.
Leave no more than two leaflets attached to each cutting. Dip cuttings
into an Alovera leaf or rooting hormone. Plunge cuttings into propagating sand
or even plant beside the bush they came from.
Leave for about four to six weeks for them to root.
Keep them moist. Remove and
discard any that show signs of dieback (browning on the stem).
When they are growing strongly, transplant them to a permanent spot in
the rose bed. How far apart should I plant my roses?Correct
spacing is important because roses need space to grow and you will need to get
close to tend them. Set them back from paths so they don’t catch people
walking by. Plant taller bushes at the back and shorter to the front.
They can be planted staggered in rows for better effect.
Minimum spacing is about 80cm. If you are planting roses as a tight
screen for privacy the same distance applies to allow breezes through.
Check their height and spread before you buy. Cut
the stems from well-watered bushes in the late afternoon.
Place immediately in water so carry a bucket with you.
When cutting leave at least two five leaflet leave on the stem to
encourage further growth. Plunge
the flowers up to their necks in lukewarm water.
Recut the stems under water. Keep
in a bucket of water overnight in a dark cool spot before arranging in vases. |
