Salvaging an old HT

16 years ago

We have an old HT (Granada) that hangs on year after year, but looks like it's on its way out. It's probably more than 30 years old in our garden. No matter how much care and coddling it gets, it doesn't produce any new basal growth and the lower part remains old, grey and garley. It does bloom, but it is not covered in blooms like other newer roses in our garden.

I'm wondering what I can to do help it --- or is it time to replace it?

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Comments (3)

taoseeker
16 years ago
If you live in an area with mild winters you can root a cutting, and in a couple of years you will have a new plant. It's well worth the trouble if hybrid teas do well ownroot in your area. I have resurrected old grafted roses with good care, which means; blending good compost in the top soil around the rose, adding solid organic fertilizer twice a year, and now and then water with liquid seaweed extract. The organic liquid fertilizers with seaweed and other stuff works wonders on old roses. I have come to the conclusion that roses doesn't grow old or healthy with artificial fertilizers, I stick to the natural stuff after making a few mistakes.

Best of luck :-)
jenn
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you! I garden entirely organically, starting 10+ years ago. I have slacked off on tending the garden the last 1-2 years due to other activities, but I am working my way back to it now. I have used liquid seaweed extract, fish oil, alfalfa pellets, and other organic fertilizers (my favorite is E. B. Stone), etc. I use the hose to spray off aphids and bugs, mulch with organic material, and even have a compost pile. :-)

I like your suggestion to use the compost and organic fertilizers, etc for another year and see how it does.

Nothing is like taking over a neglected rose and make it grow big and healthy.

I love that!
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taoseeker
16 years ago
;-)

I must admit I have managed to kill a couple of roses, but it has mostly been fall plantings, and bare roots before they have had a chance to establish. I don't know exactly how the odds are for a 30 year old grafted hybrid tea, but to me it's almost always too early to give up on a rose.

The E B Stone fertilizer looks great, but I wonder if the high levels of phosphorous is necessary in the long run? I suppose it depends on the soil. I use one with NPK 8:2:9 in addition to seaweed extract and compost. I use what find available in stores here, but I have ordered granulated seaweed extract online. It's really good stuff. This year I have given my container roses a type of liquid organic fertilizer based on a fermented biproduct when sugar is extracted from sugar beets. I have never had better sweet peas and fuchsias.