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Suggestions for landscaping rose in Zone 7b?

16 years ago

I live in the Washington DC area (hot, humid summers) and am an experienced gardener, but not with roses. I'm looking for suggestions for low maintenance rose bushes to plant along part of my driveway. The bed is about 5' deep and the section I want to plant with roses is about 12 feet wide. I looking for something that will get up to about 4' tall and will not require any spraying. I've considered knockout (maybe too tall), double knockout and homerun, but maybe there are some other varieties I should consider that are equally easy to care for. The bed gets full sun. Hoping you can give me some suggestions.

Also does anyone have a photo of knockout and double knockout side by side? I'd like to compare them.

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Comments (4)

barbarag_happy
16 years ago
Go to helpmefind.com/roses to compare the two Knock-Outs. Caldwell Pink would be a good rose for your driveway; if you leave for two weeks in heat of summer it will cope just fine, and as a bonus the foliage is pretty in the fall. If you want a rose that's beautiful and fragrant up close, makes a good hedge, and you can cut it for the house-- Quietness. You'd only need a couple for a 12 ft. bed; she's a spreader. You'll have to do a lot of pruning to keep your Knock-Outs to the desired height, I believe these others may be easier to manage. One more-- worth seaking out-- is Lovely Fairy which is reblooms steadily in a nice deep pink and has really pretty, dense shiny foliage. That will stay under 4 ft. for you too. Have fun looking at the pictures and reading the comments on Help me Find. (If I set about to plant a red hedge I'd go lower and plant Martha Gonzales which is beautiful even in the winter. She's short tho).
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User
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the advice. Great site!
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barbarag_happy
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If you want to add a "feature" rose rather than have all the plants alike-- take a look at Lyda Rose or Lavender Dream. Both are graceful plants, and likely to be taller than the others. The red of Knock-Out looks well with its foliage, but is a hard color to blend. So if you're planning on adding bulbs, pansies, and perennials for additional color I think the pinks/roses are easier to work with.
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diane_nj 6b/7a
16 years ago
Home Run will stay smaller than the Knock Outs, most that I have seen have been in the 4' range. A rich, true red, color. Knock Out (and Double KO) tend to the hot pink side.
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