Gardener's Group discussion

I started out with Knockouts and have expanded (a lot!) this year to other kinds! Do you grow roses? What kinds? Have you tried growing roses and didn't have any luck with them?

I have tried different roses over the past and finally tried some Knockouts year before last. They are the first rose I have ever planted that made it through the winter and approximately doubled in size last year. I'm worried about the open winter we seem to be having and have gone out and added extra mulch around them.

I have a Buck's rose, not sure the exact name (the nursery didn't have it) but it is wonderful! Buck was a professor at Iowa State University, and bred the roses to tolerate Iowa winters. I never do anything special with it, often not even mulching it, and it has thrived for years. It has lovely pale orange, fragrant flowers. There are about three hundred differenty varieties he developed. They are somewhat hard to find, but well worth the search. Cheryl,for you they might be worth looking for!

I should mention that the $200 worth of Sub Zero roses I had bought when still working ALL died in the winter. I had mulched them about six inches that year, but they still bit the dust. Two lasted one more year, but struggled that year and never recovered.

What I would like is roses that would tolerate a tropical climate. They really need a cold rest period and that is totally lacking here. I have grown roses here in the past, but there is more joy in the accomplishment than in the flowers which are nothing to write home about at all.

Miriam wrote: "I have a Buck's rose, not sure the exact name (the nursery didn't have it) but it is wonderful! Buck was a professor at Iowa State University, and bred the roses to tolerate Iowa winters. I never d..."

I read a great article about the breeder in a magazine a couple of years ago and have tried to find a source here in Minnesota. No one seems to know what I'm talking about. They sound wonderful and the pics in the mag made me drool. Do you remember where you got yours?

Miriam wrote: "I should mention that the $200 worth of Sub Zero roses I had bought when still working ALL died in the winter. I had mulched them about six inches that year, but they still bit the dust. Two lasted..."

That's what's happened to every other rose I've ever tried except for the Knockouts. Really depressing as I love roses.

Cheryl, my local nursery got one unlabeled Buck rose from their supplier. I suspect you will have to resort to internet suppliers. I had a list, but it is probably old. Let me Google and find some for you.

http://www.ag.iastate.edu/centers/cad...

This is the official Iowa State University home page for Buck roses, which lists the varieties (with pictures) and places that sell them.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/article...

This site lists a Minnesota supplier in the text, and has some interesting history on Buck and how he got in to rose breeding.

PS, I would love to meet you at the Reiman Gardens in Ames to tour. I have never done their tour.

Miriam wrote: "http://www.ag.iastate.edu/centers/cad...

This is the official Iowa State University home page for Buck roses, which lists the varieties (with pictures) and places that sell them."

THANK YOU!

I have Knockout Rosa 'Radcon' (2) and 'Radrazz,' (3). Non KO's: 'Easy Does It' floribunda (1), 'Queen Elizabeth' Grandiflora (1), 'Mardi Gras' floribunda (1) and Rosa 'Pope John Paul II' hybrid tea (1) for a total of 9 roses now, 6 of which I purchased this year LOL!!! All are growing in containers. My Radcons and Mardi Gras have always done well in their containers, all I do is top off their soil before winter sets in and I will say that having good, cold, snowy winters the past 2 years really helped them to Grow (as does deadheading). 1 Radcon is nearly 6 feet tall, the other 4 feet tall and Mardi is 5 feet tall, all full when in bloom. So we'll see about how the new additions fare come spring!

Jo wrote: "I have Knockout Rosa 'Radcon' (2) and 'Radrazz,' (3). Non KO's: 'Easy Does It' floribunda (1), 'Queen Elizabeth' Grandiflora (1), 'Mardi Gras' floribunda (1) and Rosa 'Pope John Paul II' hybrid te..."

I'm jealous. They all sound terrific. I've never tried grandifloras, maybe I'll try one next summer.

It was such a large, pretty pink rose that I bought it for myself for my birthday along with East Does I hope they both return in Spring!

Jo wrote: "It was such a large, pretty pink rose that I bought it for myself for my birthday along with East Does I hope they both return in Spring!"

Think I'll do some research and see if there are any specifically bred for northern gardens. I think they grow them in Canada, so some of them should work here.

I saw a clever way to mulch a rose bed the other day. The gardener had taken stakes and wire netting, and carefully staked the entire bed with evenly placed stakes, wrapped chicken wire around the whole bed. Filled it with dead leaves. Then ran a string of white lights around it, and put big red bows at the top of each stack. So it looks like holiday decorations, but is disguising a rose bed heavily mulched.

That's creative! Leaves are the best mulch I've found.

I have a Queen Elizabeth also. I got it because I was being funny one day, since that's my name. It has survived transplanting and disease and is a wonderful and large plant. Even does well when I don't pamper it. I am in zone 6.

I love my Queen Elizabeth! It's survived Winter (or lack thereof since we didn't have much cold weather to speak of) and is already full of new foliage! Same for Pope John Paul II hybrid tea and the Radrazz Knock Outs I bought last year.

My Easy Does It appears to be dead as a door nail which just breaks my heart. But, I'll buy a new one this year and try again. Such a beautiful rose, I definitely want one in my garden permanently. (It's guaranteed so since it's not coming back - a mass of dead sticks - I'll bring it back to the nursery I purchased it from for a refund).

The Easy Does It is very pretty. It was on my list but roses have to take a back seat for now because we have so much to do. Our yard was destroyed and my foundation garden taken out when we had to do foundation repairs last year. The plants we salvaged are doing well being ignored!
It's so funny. I had a rose that long since died. Some new growth sprung up from the roots two years ago and I let it be. It grew but had no buds last year so I told hubby to just toss it. He kept it, though, and the thing is covered in buds! I didn't mulch or anything over the winter and it looks great! Roses are so unpredictable. And I have no idea what kind of rose this is. Can't wait to see it in bloom.

I had the same thing happen in two spots last year- a plant coming up from the root but no buds. Hopefully I get buds like you did!

I hope so! It was really crazy. No buds for two summers but grows much faster and looks prettier than the plant that was originally there. I was ruthless with it when I cut it back because it grew toward my sidewalk and drove me crazy. Then we tossed it in some dirt and let it be and now look. lol
I love to garden but I don't really have a green thumb. I just celebrate when good things happen and act like I know what I'm doing when what I plant ACTUALLY grows. ha! ;)

I'm still looking for a source for Buck's Roses. They were bred by a fellow in Iowa and are supposed to do great in northern climes. None of the local nurseries have ever had them, but I keep hoping they will catch on here. The big thing here last year were the Knock Outs. I have three of those and they have all leafed out, so I'm hoping for good things!

Didn't I post some sites to order them? I can find that again if you need it. I don't think you will find them unless you go online.

I have a rose bush on our northern property that I've cut back and pruned for the last two seasons, it's grown by leaps & bounds and I cannot wait for it to bloom one day! It's huge as of now and it's only just starting to come back. I've no idea what kind it may be. One day I hope to find out!

Miriam wrote: "Didn't I post some sites to order them? I can find that again if you need it. I don't think you will find them unless you go online."

I think you did, but I can't find the thread. I'm going to do some more looking on line this coming week.

Here is a link to Where Can I Buy Buck's Roses: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/centers/cad...

Thanks Jo, that is probably more current than my list!

Welcome! I did a quick google search :o)

Does anyone in the group have a good source for Rosa Rugosa? I'm not a huge fan of roses, but Rugosas are so beautiful in all seasons that I do love them. Also Rosa Glauca, for its lovely foliage - another great variety that is almost impossible to find in local nurseries. Appreciate any suggestions you can share.

Jo wrote: "Here is a link to Where Can I Buy Buck's Roses: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/centers/cad..."

Thanks so much for doing the search for me. One source in Mn looks like it sells retail so I will be checking it out to see if they do mail order.

Lise N, aka 'No Ordinary Tomato' wrote: "Does anyone in the group have a good source for Rosa Rugosa? I'm not a huge fan of roses, but Rugosas are so beautiful in all seasons that I do love them. Also Rosa Glauca, for its lovely foliage..."

Lise - I've been to Vintage Gardens in Sebastopol - http://www.vintagegardens.com/shippin... - they have a good reputation around here (I've not mailordered from them, but have heard great things). They have 6 rugosas with about 30 "special root request rugosas" available. I went nuts for OGRs at my previous home - ordered them all from Roses of Yesterday and Today in Watsonville in the 90's - they did change hands and 2 yelp reviews aren't great but if I can't get cuttings from my previous home/now rental place to take, I'd consider ordering from them: http://www.rosesofyesterday.com/

My OGRs - favorites are Alchymist and (arrgh, gardener clearing the place to rent hacked it - want to go back this week, tour the grounds and see if it came back from the roots) rosa moschata plena. I'm determined to retart both up here. Have had some specimens limping along in pots - this will be their 5th potted year since I moved and dug them up or had substantial cuttings root. Just couldn't get a deer fence in until this year - hoping to move things into the ground (in wire cages, have voracious voles). Over the move and renting the old home, killed quite a few - but Belinda is noteworthy and flowers in shade - another must to replicate for here, Jacques Cartier smells lovely, Alfred de Damas was lovely but extra spiney - good for keeping dogs and people back, low grower - I probably wouldn't do it again (flowers small and delicate, nice enough); Baronne Prevost, again nice but ok if I don't have it here; Chestnut Rose didn't live long for me; love Constance Spry; Dortmund known for taking scorching heat - OGR long stiff cane thing so you need a large spot for it to look good; Fantin Latour, ok; Geisha - loved, funny can be considered with the OGRs - consider it more recent; Gruss an Coburg, la Reine Victoria, Madam Hardy, Madam LeGras de St Germaine, Cli Mrs Sam McGreedy, Paul Neyron, Henry Nevard ok; Cli Shot Silk worth seeking out; Wind Chimes - does well with LOTS of shade. whew, All of those were from teh Watsonville seller and all lived at least a few years (so any demise was from my neglect or the renters who had leave to kill/move anything they want, just keep the yards neat).

This post is bad for me - I'm browsing http://www.rosesofyesterday.com/ and remembering I really wanted another 4th of July climber. One of those things, Years ago started with a pastel-y cottage garden, then started adding splashed of color - loved what 4th of July brought. Sigh, just ordered quite a few daylily fans from Smokey's Daylillies on eBay. Thought was I WILL get the perennial bed built this year (fingers crossed).

I love old-fashioned roses. One of the reasons I'm putting off working on the rose garden is that I want to do it right and find some gorgeous old roses.

Maggie wrote: "Lise N, aka 'No Ordinary Tomato' wrote: "Does anyone in the group have a good source for Rosa Rugosa? I'm not a huge fan of roses, but Rugosas are so beautiful in all seasons that I do love them. ..."

Wow - thanks so much for this information. I will check out these sites for sure!

Beth wrote: "new growth sprung from teh roots..." Most new roses are grown as grafts on sturdier root stock. You can play with grafting some of your favorite roses onto this surviving rootstock. Many OGRs are grown on their on roots and will grow back "true". Rootstock are generally the small(an inch or 2), flat open single roses. There's a lot of web / utube info available on grafting - spring is a good time to try.

(Puts Moderator cap on)

With grafting, watch out re: patents for certain roses by rose breeders, many roses are exclusive to certain companies/breeders! Big trouble can ensue! It is illegal to propagate any patented plants. "A plant patent lasts for 20 years. According to plant patent laws, you must have a license agreement to asexually propagate patented plants, even as a hobby in your own back yard. This includes grafts and cuttings." -Fern Fischer

(Takes moderator cap off)

Not making this statement to start a debate nor am I telling you what to do or not to do in your own garden, but sometimes I just have to do the moderator-ly thing and point these things out. Thanks for understanding!

Jo wrote: "(Puts Moderator cap on)

With grafting, watch out re: patents for certain roses by rose breeders, many roses are exclusive to certain companies/breeders! Big trouble can ensue! It is illegal to pr..."

No worries - there's also something called plant breeders rights that can go to 25 years. Luckily all the roses I pine for are the older ones (say Geisha = 1964, my OGR catalog includes dates which is handy). I haven't actually grafted although I started a many OGRs from cuttings.

Personally, I try not to step on the patent/breeder rights, but I do propagate a lot (or used to at my old place, I could start anything there). For most of us, the vast majority of what we grow is from stock easily before 1990.

No worries, like I said, I just have to pop in once in a while wearing my moderator cap when certain topics come up :o)

The roses were the only things that did not survive my huge transplant last year. Oh, and one dogwood shrub. There were three, but I wasn't very optimistic about them. They were SOOO dry and neglected before I moved them, lost all their leaves when I did. Oh well.

I have a rose mystery. I have 3 Knockout rose bushes all planted at the same time 2 yrs ago. Two are on the north side of the house and one is on the NW corner of my garden. The garden one is okay, however on the other two it is obvious something has entirely eaten their leaves. I have checked the plants over and cannot find a bug, worm etc to account for the carnage. In addition right in front of these two Knockouts I have two miniature old fashion roses that have no damage whatsoever. Any ideas?

I'm having that happen with one of my Clematis. I've no idea what it could be. I've checked the under side of remaining leaves and can't find any signs of infestation.

I've been battling black spot, powdery mildew & aphids on the roses and the only unusual part of that is that it's about 2 months early and ALL of my roses have had the black spot this year, even the Knock Outs. It seems to be fairly under control now though thankfully.

Cheryl, probably is something that eats at night, then hides in the soil during the day. Earwigs or slugs? Rolly pollies (sow bugs)?

Miriam wrote: "Cheryl, probably is something that eats at night, then hides in the soil during the day. Earwigs or slugs? Rolly pollies (sow bugs)?"

Never had this issue before, but thanks for the info. The plants are blooming like crazy but look pretty silly as the blooms are on completely bare branches.

Sounds like it could be sawflies (rose slugs),Cheryl.

I just came home from an informal presentation given by Mike McGrath who is the host of NPR's "You Bet Your Garden." He recommended a product called Sluggo and another called Sluggo Plus. It is a non-toxic substance that you can spread in your garden. When it is ingested by snails and slugs, the insects die and actually release chemicals that then act as fertilizer.

Have any of you tried this product? I think I am going to try some for the slugs in my garden.

Jo wrote: "I'm having that happen with one of my Clematis. I've no idea what it could be. I've checked the under side of remaining leaves and can't find any signs of infestation.

I've been battling black ..."

Aphids! I discovered aphids hiding in the Clematis - they're getting crafty the little buggers! Doused the entire thing with soapy water a few days ago.

Earlier I had mentioned something had eaten all the leaves off of my two Knockout Roses on the north side of my house. One of them has regrown some leaves and this morning I noticed it also has opened one bloom!

I purchased another Knockout this spring and planted it in a different area and it is going great guns, has at least doubled in size and putting out lots of bloom. I'm excited I've finally found a rose I can get to grow.

Planted Spring 2013

Chihuly
Strike It Rich
Ketchup & Mustard

Can't wait to see them and they are begining to open!

Nice!!!

I just picked up Gertrude Jekyll, a David Austen rose, yesterday as a belated birthday present for myself - it's been on my wish list for so long I can't quite get over the fact that I've finally got it lol!

Still on the hunt for Julia Child :-)