is this rose any good

aggypanthus

I saw Alpine Sunset in a neighbours raised bed and it looked fab.
I am considering buying one, but from where?

The last 2 cheapie gardrn centre roses I bought came to nothing, even now in 3 rd yr. They have 2 spindly stems still.

arbrighton

Well, not the garden centre you got the others from- have you asked neighbours where they got theirs from? Mail order? Fryers are a well known grower- do RHS Tatton etc

DaftyDuck

If the other two have come to naught, it's just possible you are doing it wrong.:D

You may have a more challenging climate where you are (sunny Kent, 24C in a walled garden yesterday here) but roses are tough. I was regularly committing rosicide for some years, until I worked out that, tough though they are, that's only when established. The first year, I mollycoddle the poppits like kittens.

Large hole, deep too. I fill with water, then wait for it to empty. I dig composted garden waste into the bottom six inches, and add a good quantity of bonemeal and inorganic rose fertiliser. The remaining hole will be slightly deeper than the roots of the plant. If bare rooted, I carefully spread the roots out, infilling as I go. If potted, I loosen the roots lightly, then infill the hole, but leave the hole slightly lower than the ground. I then water again, loads.

I then keep it well watered for the next few months, use rose fertiliser, spray if needed, and read it bedtime stories as required.

Pruning is a bit more complex but, in general, I'd always prune a new rose right down to 6 inches on planting. Then I have control over where it branches.

Once established, you can kick them, starve them, run them over with a lawnmower, they'll cope. You can even prune a rose bed by running a hedge trimmer straight over, and they'll cope fine. But, to start them off, treat them like complete wusses!

Edit... I use Mattocks, Beales and Jacksons for mine. Oh, and the Pound Shop, Homebase and local market.

aggypanthus

Daftyduck, thanks for the detailed advice. I used to do all the right things when I started out yrs ago and you reminded me that I have become complacent with my planting.


I have clay, but well nourished with compost, and have some success, mostly climbers.
I shall look online.

The neighbour said he will ask his gf,

DaftyDuck

It was a good reminder to me too... I moved a rose today,and actually bothered to bung compost in, and get the hose out to soak it.... I'd have felt guilty having told you off for attempted rosicide, if I'd then gone and wopped it in and not done it right