climbing roses

Little_Vics

Hello!

I have a feeling I may have asked this before, so apologies if I have.

I'm in the market for some climbing roses to grow over an arched gate. Now, the issue is I'm REALLY bad at gardening, so ideally I want something that I literally have to do nothing to. Nothing.

Any suggestions?

xLV

lostinrates

Little_Vics wrote: »

Hello!

I have a feeling I may have asked this before, so apologies if I have.

I'm in the market for some climbing roses to grow over an arched gate. Now, the issue is I'm REALLY bad at gardening, so ideally I want something that I literally have to do nothing to. Nothing.

Any suggestions?

xLV

Over an arched gate you WILL have to do something. Roses are wonderful but need to me cut back and or tied in areas where people pass or they can do damage to clothing and skin as well as looking un ruly.

I love roses and have lots, but personally, I mainly avoid them over areas like narrow arches, paths, driveways because at this time of year growth can be phenomenal. I've done a first neaten tieing in on my climbers ( not strictly necessary but keeps me happy) already.

Little_Vics

hmmm. I don't mind having to tie them, and do an odd bit of pruning.

My dad has suggested something called Shropshire Lad (or something)...does that mean anything to anyone?!

lostinrates

http://www.davidaustinroses.com/american/showrose.asp?showr=4251

He's quite well behaved, not too thuggish. I have him on an east wall. He's also good because not too thorny.

He will need regular tieing in as his mature growth I find very rigid, so you'll want to train him as he grows IMO.


Beautiful choice though.

Little_Vics

oooh - pretty! Thank you. Do you have any other suggestions? You seem to be very clued up!

lostinrates

I suggest looking on Peter Beales website and David Austin and looking for something with low thorns, that repeat flowers and preferably scented. ( all things that rose is good for) that YOU love. Not that others recommend. . . Your father made a good recommendation IMO. Your initial post was that you wanted to do literally no work, for which a rose isn't a great choice, but they aren't a lot of work, and they are worth it if you are prepared to do the little work. I do really recommend something low or no thorns where people walk. But thorny as you like in a hedge to stop people jumping over, leaning, or scrambling through.

Then I suggest giving it a few years to establish and then planting something like a winter flowering clematis through it so you have something at another time of year.

Little_Vics

amazing - thank you very much.

I_have_spoken

Ghislaine de Feligonde or Madame Alfred Carriere are both nearly thornless climbers

lostinrates

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Ghislaine de Feligonde or Madame Alfred Carriere are both nearly thornless climbers

Madame Alfred carrier was in my 'wedding bouquet' ( grand word for bunch of roses picked that morning from the garden ) In our gardens she's always had thorns. I cannot tell you how many floaty clothes have been ripped on her because she's always by my mothers front door.

Ghislane de feliginde is beautiful, I like your taste a lot ....but.....would she repeat as well as an 'English' rose? For most situations I am with you, I think the real old roses have something special. But the English roses are popular for food reason I think. On an arch, I presume a main feature, something that repeats pretty reliably is going to be key.

pelirocco

pick a rose that has a long flowering life , we have a lovely , but deadly ( thorns that stalk and hunt you down) climbing rose , produces loads of beatiful white roses , that last a very short time

greenval

I've just planted six different climbing roses against the fence.They were mail order from the [EMAIL="P@rkers"]P@rkers[/EMAIL] catalogue. I think Madame Zepherine Drouhin was a thornless one but they had quite a few different ones.