Shovel Prune worthy?

13 years ago

I live in a townhouse with a very small yard and I also have a growing passion for roses. Right now I think I want to get rid of my Sixteen Candles because is loses its blooms so quickly, though DH thinks that's a silly reason to get rid of a rose, especially one I've only had 1 year. I contend that I don't have the space to put up with something I don't love.

Am I being silly? Or is this good space management?

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Comments (8)

karl_bapst_rosenut
13 years ago
It's entirely up to you. You really don't need an excuse to get rid of or reason to keep a rose. It's your garden.
You could always pot it up and give it away or grow it in the pot until it matures and then make a decision. Which ever, do what pleases you.
wanttogarden
13 years ago
I will give it year or two to see if it gets better with age. As Karl mentioned, You can also move it to a pot if you need the space. I have few roses that definitely improved when moved into pots.

fj
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jumbojimmy
13 years ago
I think that's a valid reason for getting rid of a rose that you don't like. Have you decided what other rose to replace this Sixteen Candels? Perhaps you may like to look through some photos of what that rose looks like in maturity first.

I got rid of my Sweet Caitlin rose (aka Golden Zest) because the colour was too bold/bright. Plus it likes to grow sideways and I just don't have the room for that. The only good thing about this rose is it's a bloom machine - wish my Austins could repeat as fast as that.

I now have another dilemma. Whether or not I should get rid of Mayor of Casterbrige?
My 2nd year old 'Mayor of Casterbridge' rose is planted in the ground and is already 3m tall!

The reason why I want to get rid of it is because this rose didn't repeat at all! It gave me a massive one month display of pink blooms in mid Nov to early Dec and that was it.

I only wish it has a stronger scent, otherwise it's just another pretty pink rose. I like this rose - but this rose is planted in a prime spot whereas all my roses are planted in the containers.

I wonder if 2 years is enough to come to a verdict.
onederw
13 years ago
We who are growing roses in (relatively) small spaces may have a different gardening imperative from others who have a lot more room. I envy all of you your fences to cover and your spots that need filling.
Ain't got no spots. Nope. Pretty much the only way I have an empty spot is by removing something. Because space is at such a premium, I tend to get pretty ruthless with Mr. Shovel during dormant season. It's not quite Bloom or Die, but it's pretty close.
So I'm with Karl -- you don't need to justify keeping or removing anything. This is why you call it YOUR garden. It should be filled with things you love looking at and caring for. So get 16 Candles outta there and put in something you like better. Give it away or put it in a pot. What eases my conscience considerably when I remove a rose is that we have a local plant bank run by one of the community organizations. If I take out a rose -- or any other plant, for that matter, I drop it off at the plant bank -- someone always adopts it.
taoseeker
13 years ago
I have a very small garden around my house, and a bit larger one around the cottage. I know how important it is to get the right rose in the right place. Personally I don't mind flowers on a rose like Sixteen Candles not lasting long. They are produced abundantly and it's hardly without flowers in the growing sesason. The ones that have lasting flower, alway have buds that take a long time to develop and unfold, and really don't at any time have more flowers than the average floribunda. Don't get me wrong, if you have your eye on something you think will fit you requirements better, go for it.

Regards
york_rose
13 years ago
If I was utterly dumbstruck by the opening or open blooms I might forgive their short life spans (& this is assuming the rose variety in question is known for having flowers that shatter quickly; some do have such a reputation), but it really is up to you.

I know for me a deal breaker in an otherwise stellar rose is having the flowers hold onto their petals even after they've dried up into brown shriveled bits of balled, husky, papery ugliness (even as other people are willing to overlook such a fault if the rose is otherwise spectacular, and yes, there is at least one excellent landscape rose that does that, or at least can do that under the right circumstances).
foreoki12
Original Author
13 years ago
I'm going to give SC another year before I demote her to a pot. I think I was getting a little trigger happy due to all the research into new roses I've been doing. The fact remains that she does produce blooms pretty well, even if they don't last more than a day. There are worse problems for a rose to have.
ptboise
13 years ago
Life's short. SP that critter and plant something you may instantly love.