CHOOSING YOUR ROSES
Types of roses
HYBRID TEA (HT): These are the classic type of rose, the beautiful formed tight bud that you would get in a bouquet. The flowers are on long stems usually borne singly although sometimes side buds are present. Plants vary in size but generally will grow 1.5m – 2.5m tall. Excellent cutting roses.
FLORIBUNDA (FL): A little shorter and more compact in growth than Hybrid Teas with flower heads made up of a cluster of blooms. These varieties make fantastic garden displays or hedges but have limited vase life as the blooms are quite open and “blousy”.
CLIMBING ROSES: Various flowering forms but most produce canes of 3 – 4 metres in length. These canes should be trained onto a trellis or fence although some varieties are suitable to spiral around a post or over an arch. Canes are best layered in a horizontal position to encourage flowering.
MINIATURE ROSES: Tiny replicas of the HT forms available in a vast range of colours. The plants require the exact same treatment as larger roses and are ideally suited to growing in pots, flowerboxes or as a border. Weeping varieties perform well in a hanging basket or as ground covers.
DAVID AUSTIN ROSES: Usually have a very compact, full flower giving them an old fashioned charm. David Austin prides himself on colour and fragrance, with both of these attributes shining through in his vast collection. These varieties grow to different heights, with some labelled as climbers. All are repeat bloomers unless specified otherwise.
GROUND COVER ROSES: Very stout spreading roses which usually get about 40cm high and 1.5 metres wide. Ideal for covering slopes or under planting in your garden. All Ground cover roses in our catalogue are repeat bloomers giving you 9 – 10 months of colour.
CONTAINER GROWN OR BARE-ROOT?
Traditionally roses were grown in the ground by nurserymen and then in winter dug up and pruned hard. The roots were then wrapped in sawdust and plastic ready for sales as bare-root roses. Now however, the trend is to grow in containers from the beginning of propagation until they are sold to the customer for planting in the home garden.
There are several distinct advantages of container grown roses over bare-root. These are;
-Container grown are not limited to seasons and are able to be planted out all year round.
-Usually in flower so it is not necessary to rely on pictorial labels which can often be misleading.
-As the plant has not had its roots cut there is no transplant shock and the rose will continue to grow and bloom without setback.
-An instant flowering rose garden can be planted.
CHOICE OF ROOTSTOCK
All roses are grafted using “understock” from which the roots are produced. The aerial position is the cultivar – producing the flower of the desired variety.
The only rootstock tried and proven for W.A conditions is FORTUNEANAwhich is resistant to Nematodes, virtually drought resistant and tolerates our hot summer.
Unfortunately some garden centres and chain stores are selling roses grafted on rootstocks which are not compatible with our local conditions and will not thrive in the long term. Be sure you are planting years of blooming pleasure with fortuneana rootstock – bushes with a long life expectancy and minimum maintenance.