I need a rose expert
By Titchy
Dorset,
United Kingdom 
I have read everything there is to read about rose growing but am more confused than ever. I am having the front garden re paved and there is a space in the middle where there are pebbles (I hate pebbles so want to get rid of them) I would like roses there, not too high ones, same colour and type, but most of all disease resistant. Looking for yellow/apricot colour if possible, but have not decided on the colour yet. So if there is a rose grower out there with some good tips please I am waiting. Also should I wait until spring or will late autumn be better to plant them?
11 Aug, 2009
Answers
The best thing to do is to have a browse through some rose growers catalogues...David Austin, Peter Beales, Fry's etc. Choose your rose, and if you are buying bare-rooted plants, then the right time to plant them is early winter - November onwards - unless the ground is frozen.
This will give you time to prepare the ground. They are greedy feeders, so dig in well-rotted manure, compost etc.
You can buy container grown plants, which can be planted at any time. They still need the preparatory work, though. Bare-rooted ones tend to be cheaper and grow just as well!
I hope this helps.
11 Aug, 2009
Problem with roses is there's a lot of nonsense and hype talked about them - rose suppliers will generally only tell you the good points, for instance, perfect flowers with perfect colours, but they don't tell you that this rose is prone to black spot, or that the flowers are few and far between, or that they change colour after 2 years, and so on. I don't know if, in your research, you have ever looked at The Rose Expert by D. G. Hessayon, but I'd say it's the most useful publication on this subject, AND he tells you the faults too. Less than a tenner to buy and you may even find the library has one. It's everything you ever wanted to know about roses, and impartial - he's not selling you anything except for the fact he used to work for PBI products, the makers of Roseclear - even so, Roseclear happens to be one of the most effective spray treatments for both fungal infections and aphid problems. One recommendation for an actual rose I'd make would be Whisky Mac - fragrant, peachy/coppery/orangey blooms, about 3/4 feet high.
11 Aug, 2009
I have had such good answers, I would like to give you all 10 out of 10 marks. It's so good to hear from people who know what they are talking about, and you can rely on their honesty and self experience. A BIG thank you
13 Aug, 2009
You're welcome, Titchy. Please let us know which rose you do buy in the end! And post a photo when it flowers. :-)
13 Aug, 2009
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« can I plant them in the garden and how? I dont want to lose them
you have def asked at the right place
we have rose growers,experts and lovers here a plenty
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11 Aug, 2009