How exciting, Otterbon! And when you are able to do so, please post pictures of your new beds.

It's time to do roses again. Enjoy yourself. Just don't let things get out of hand. But for $10 a plant, buy what you really like.

Otterbon,

Are you living where fungus issues are important points to remember in slecting rose varieties? Hope you aren't, because many of your selections are very prone to black spot infestations, and spraying fungicides regularly, organic or conventional, will be a maintenance requirement.

Please forgive me for putting a cloud over your joy, but believe me, you will be glad that you heeded my precaution. Growing disease prone bushes is a nightmare.

Moses.

Thanks all!

Moses, I am just outside of Tyler. I am pretty familiar with the maintenance I’ll need on these, and I have no issue shovel pruning if I need to! Right now they are happy and healthy so we will just cross our fingers they stay that way—and keep the fungicide handy!

Good game plan, Otterbon! There's nothing like feasting your eyes on a bed of roses in bloom. No other flower evokes more intense emotional responses than the rose. Let us know which variety becomes your favorite!

Moses.

Otterbon, I don’t think I would have any control if I lived that close to Certified Roses and the $10 price. Enjoy!

Moses, Peach Swirl has always been a perennial favorite for me, I was very sad when my older bush didn’t make it. Lemontini is an early favorite from the newer varieties—a beautifully classic look, perfect yellow shade and already proving to be a vigorous grower.

My biggest shock so far is Blue Girl—I’ve grown and fought with Blue Girl before, I’m a sucker for the fragrance but all of my past plants have been rather fussy. this new one is extremely happy right now and has the most new growth of any of the plants I put in the ground.

Lemontini after a rainstorm:

A couple of Peach Swirls, Scentimental and Forever Yours:

and a very healthy Blue Girl:

kentucky, I didn’t exhibit a lot of self-restraint. I have been there so often checking to see what they had that they know me now. The last time I told them I was really wanting a Peach Swirl and they sent one of the workers to the back and snagged two from the greenhouse for me to choose between. I bought them both!!

Otterbon, thanks for those pictures! They’re beautiful!

You mean business! Well mulched, integral watering system (can't tell if you have soaker hoses or an emitter type feed going...looks more like soaker hoses), nicely spaced, etc. You seem to know the ropes pretty well.

Much success to you, is my prayer!

Moses.

Yep, it’s a soaker. This bed is relatively compact, I’ve got 3’ from center to center of bushes, they’re staggered in rows so the easiest thing to do was snake the soaker through them. It’s good dirt so it absorbs well and in my testing the pressure carried through well to the end of the hose!

What brand soaker hose did you get? And how long?

Apple, it’s the Miracle Gro system. I don’t think they sell it anymore, I picked up a couple years ago on clearance. I think Element rebranded it and sells it at Lowe’s now. it’s 100’ and you can customize it, I think I am using about 50’

Thanks for info. Always nice to know what works well.