{"id":2984,"date":"2016-03-11T08:00:39","date_gmt":"2016-03-11T13:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.surroundslandscaping.com\/?p=2984"},"modified":"2024-06-12T18:00:52","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T18:00:52","slug":"garden-design-violets-are-blue-roses-are-difficult","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.surroundslandscaping.com\/garden-design-violets-are-blue-roses-are-difficult\/","title":{"rendered":"Garden Design: Violets Are Blue, Roses Are… Difficult?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Are Roses Difficult to Maintain?<\/h2>\n

\"OliviaSome are. It is true that some hybrid rose varieties bred during the 1940s and 50\u2019s needed a lot of attention and were susceptible to fungal diseases. The old garden rose varieties (those bred prior to 1857) were hardier and disease resistant. However, the color palette was limited to white, pink and red. And, most of them bloomed only once during\u00a0a season.<\/p>\n

So hybrids were developed in order to introduce a greater variety of colors, shapes and sizes and a repeat bloom cycle. There was also a desire for a rose that would be easy to maintain. This quest for a \u201cbetter\u201d rose has had mixed success throughout the decades.<\/p>\n

The Crowd Pleaser<\/h3>\n

A hybrid variety called the Knockout turned out to be a hit (and still is) because it tolerates a variety of conditions, blooms continuously May through November (depending on climate region) and has been bred to be disease resistant. The downside of this success story is aesthetic: Knockouts don\u2019t\u2019 have the flowery fullness of an old-fashioned heirloom rose blossom and the fragrance is muted. Knockouts continue to be popular, however, because they are low maintenance.<\/p>\n

The Rose Reconsidered<\/h3>\n

\"EnglishSurrounds Garden Designer, Margaret Miley, says she would like to see people fall in love with what she calls the \u201cnew old roses\u201d. Her choice for this endeavor are David Austin Roses<\/a>. Also referred to as\u00a0\u201cEnglish Roses”, these are modern hybrids that embody the beautiful flower shapes and lush fragrance of the heirloom varieties. The UK based rose breeder has, since the 1960s, developed a wide\u00a0aesthetic\u00a0variety of plants that adapt well to diverse\u00a0conditions. \u201cHead Rosarian\u201d Michael Marriott, who has worked with David Austin Roses for over 30 years, says they combine the charm and fragrance of the heirloom varieties with the long flowering season and wide color palette of the moderns.<\/p>\n

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David Austin loved the old-fashioned roses which were fast disappearing. People weren\u2019t growing them because they only flowered once in a season and because they came in only white, pink and red. Whereas, modern roses repeat flower and come in yellow and apricot and just about any single color under the sun except blue. Michael Marriott, David Austin Roses<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"englishToday, Austin Roses are produced by a network of certified growers\u00a0throughout the world including the U.S. Depending on the climate zone, the English roses will bloom once, twice or up to six times in a season.<\/p>\n

Margaret Miley\u2019s personal favorite among the David Austin bred roses is the \u201cCrown Princess Margareta\u201d. Named for a Princess Margaret who was a horticulturist known for her beautiful gardens, Miley says, \u201cIt\u2019s one of the heirloom varieties with an apricot blossom that opens to a yellow that\u2019s really fragrant.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The Fine Print: Enemies of The Rose Plant<\/h3>\n

\"climbingAlmost everyone and everything loves roses\u2014but some things love the rose too much. Both Marriott and Miley acknowledge that fungal diseases such as black spots and powdery mildew have traditionally been problematic for roses. However, if you plant them in a sunny spot where their leaves can dry off quickly in the morning sun, they do well\u2014provided they aren\u2019t being doused by an errant sprinkler head. Roses need good air circulation and well-drained soil to keep them safe from common fungal diseases.<\/p>\n

Insect pests are more of a problem, especially Japanese beetles and aphids. But these two pests cause problems with a lot of plants\u2014not just roses. And the problem can be managed. A well-planned garden can attract beneficial insects, the kind that goes after the marauders.<\/p>\n

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The trend now is to not grow a pure rose garden because it is a monoculture and that in itself is a problem. If you mix the roses with other plants in your garden you are much more likely to attract beneficial insects that will control the pests. Michael Marriott, David Austin Roses<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It is also extremely important to select the right variety for the conditions in your area. See Michael Marriott\u2019s Tips for Growing English Roses<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fitting Roses into the Garden Design<\/h3>\n

\"The rose plant can take the form of a bushy informal shrub, rambling ground cover, or a climbing vine that scales garden walls or drapes over a trellis. Miley has the suggestions for adding roses to your garden:<\/p>\n