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Is this a bad time to buy roses?

8 replies

QueenOfAllBiscuitsandMuffins · 28/11/2012 10:42

It's my parents ruby wedding anniversary next week and my mother is a very keen/good gardener. I have discovered there is a ruby anniversary rose which seems like a good present, however I know nothing about roses. Is there a reputable company to buy them from? Is this a bad time to try and buy a rose bush for a garden?

Any advice gratefully received, please talk to me as if I was a gardening dunce. Which I am.

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funnyperson · 28/11/2012 12:35

www.davidaustinroses.com/english/showrose.asp?showr=1169

Good time to buy roses! Apparently they are best planted about now. They arrive looking like sticks in a 'bare root' form and one plants them now and they spring into life in the new year!

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funnyperson · 28/11/2012 12:40

A friend of mine bought red roses and planted them in a group which looked stunning and very romantic. David Austen has lots of red/deep red roses and its worth looking through to see what might suit your parents garden. There are scented sorts and climbing sorts and repeat flowering sorts and so on. I think its nice to go for one with a Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit'. They also have a lovely catalogue which they will post free to your mother if you order it online.
Here is the RHS advice on planting roses
apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=191

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Rhubarbgarden · 28/11/2012 16:12

Perfect time of year for planting roses! Definitely buy bare root instead of pot grown. They settle much better.

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QueenOfAllBiscuitsandMuffins · 28/11/2012 22:44

Thank you for your advice. Much appreciated.

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QueenOfAllBiscuitsandMuffins · 29/11/2012 06:50

Sorry can I add another stupid question. David Austin look a tad on the expensive side but is the quality good? I don't want to buy her a present that then dies, so don't mind paying extra for peace of mind (insofar as you can mitigate for a flower behaving itself!)

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funnyperson · 29/11/2012 10:21

David Austin are fine. I once had a rose from them which died and they sent me a replacement free of charge with no quibbles- it was the Generous Gardener rose and I planted it 'bare root ' in the late Autumn and it didn't spring into life the following spring so they sent me another.

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Rhubarbgarden · 29/11/2012 14:22

David Austin are top quality.

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ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 30/11/2012 14:28

David Austin roses are, in my experience, excellent quality and very reliable.

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