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edith_jabbour

How long before giving the boot?

9 years ago

I started buying roses last year, before establishing a real preference. These are my roses:

James Galway

Zepherine Drouhin

Margaret Merril (one of the first)

Queen of Sweden

The Alnwick

Eglantyne

The Ingenious Mr Fairchild

Eden

Pretty in Pink Eden

Peach Drift

Apricot Drift

Heritage

Summer Romance

Soul Sister

Scarlet Knight

Deja Blu

Joseph's Coat

Heirloom

Gene Boerner


My favorites are the English style pastel roses so I feel like the others are just taking space where I could have more desirable roses. I just feel bad that I've not had them so long. Margaret Merril doesn't do much, Heirloom doesn't look healthy, Gene Borner and Deja Blu where impulse clearance buys as was Joseph's coat who is giving me shapeless blooms. What's the soonest you have given a rose the spade? Margaret M would be the only expensive rose I am not fond of. The other unloved roses are sale roses from Lowe's, but I feel just as guilty.

Comments (13)

  • 9 years ago

    You could try giving them away. I got rid of my random hybrid tea roses after only a year. I have a tiny yard so I need to be picky. They were a year old.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Your start in roses is very typical. As you gain knowledge and experience, you will refine your selections.

    I would advise you to proceed slowly. Some of the roses you are planning to eliminate may, in a short time, become some of your favorites.

    Sit down and decide which attributes a rose must have to be included in your garden.

    Do extensive research on a variety before you buy it. This will help you avoid a lot of disappointments.

    For example, you may decide these traits are mandatory:

    very fragrant

    winter hardy with no protection

    large flowers

    extreme disease/insect resistance

    The more requirements you include the smaller the pool of roses from which you will be able to make your selections. Still, there are many thousands of different named roses, and new varieties are being introduced every year.

    What I am advising you to do is for you to formulate a vision, a direction, rather than a random approach. Then stick to your vision, and your disappointments will be lessened.

    You stated you liked the Austin, 'English,' rose look. There is a vast array of roses similar in flower form to the, 'cupped and quartered,' Austin style from other rose breeders: Kordes, Harkness, Beele, Fryer, etc., which you may find equal to or better than the Austins.

  • 9 years ago

    You don't say what zone your in. If your in a cold zone winter may make some of the decision for you. However, I try to give a rose 3 seasons to impress me. If I still don't care for it I dig it out. But most roses take about 3 years to really get established so any thing sooner and you really don't know what the roses is capable of.

    You might want to see if there is a rose society in your area and ask if they'd like to come and dig some of those up. We've done some fund raising by auctioning donated roses at our rose shows or conventions.

  • 9 years ago

    I'm with Seil, I give mine 3 years & some even longer if I'm stubborn(yes I'm talking about you Fimbriata) esp the climbers, that's the absolute minimum before they show you what they can do. Of course there's the exception, I only had Peach Drift 2years, I just couldn't get that colour to work with my other roses & plants, gave it to a neighbour, she's thrilled.

  • 9 years ago

    I wish I could give a rose that long to impress me. I give them one to two years. If I don't like it for some reason (non performer, color, form) I either give it away or it goes into the yard waste bin. Once the space is empty the guilt goes away quickly then I think of all the possibilities! Oh baby!

    Hubby said You're really getting rid of hot cocoa!? Yep! No fragrance, bad color and super thorny. The minute it was gone I was relieved. Earth Angel is now in it's place :)

  • 9 years ago

    Best thing is your in control and can yank a rose out whenever you wish...But yes it can take 3 years or so before they perform there best...Best wishes!

  • 9 years ago

    I wanted to mention that many Gene Boerner's from Lowe's are actually mismarked Austin's from a Fl grower, all grafted. Mine was Anne Boleyn, but someone last year had another Austin pink.

  • 9 years ago

    If you replace, you'll have lost 1 year. Roses are important "shrubs" in my garden and I expect nothing the first 2 years. In fact 'Heritage' took more than twice that long.

  • 9 years ago

    I think I should clarify. When I say non performer I mean BS ridden, scraggly or weak growth etc when others are doing fine or showing promise. Hot cocoa just didn't toot my horn in so many ways it made no sense to keep it when I could have something I really love! Why waste space, time and $ on something I really don't like.

  • 9 years ago

    No need to explain Sarah! lol...Its your garden...lol

  • 9 years ago

    Interesting. I pull things either because I've given them a few years to perform, and they haven't, OR because it isn't what I thought it would be when I put it in that spot, growth habit, colour, foliage etc, and I haven't another place for it. If I really like it, it might be potted for a year or two to see if I can find space.

    I, however am very space limited, with a long season and no spray, so I have to be quite ruthless.

  • 8 years ago

    I felt that way with Sparkle N Shine in it's second year I wanted to pull her. It was a pretty color and healthy but not as tall as I hoped, it also didn't bloom much. The following year it grew several more feet and got wider. It exploded with blooms which actually weighed the bush down a bit and so I had to stalk it. Together the array of blooms looked like sunshine. It became one of my favorites so much so that I bought another one. I had a similar experience with the Magician and likewise I ended up with another one. I have removed roses though before there 3rd year mainly due to BS or them frying in the heat but also due to really boring blooms and I lost patience. Hope this helps.