Hooray for you! I have a couple that I'm hankerin' to SP; Wm. Shakespeare is pitiful after 3 years! In spring I do enjoy Tess of the D'Urbervilles...but she is on her 4th year, on a cathedral tower, and still only flushes in the spring and then is stingy the rest of year...no matter how much I fool with her. She is growing into a big, useless, thorny THING! Then there's Blaze...taking up prime real estate on the fence. I doubt I could SP that bear if I tried! Huge, own root. Stingy bloomer.
Okay...I feel somewhat better.

I've only ever dug up one - Gertrude Jekyll - after 5 years of NOTHING MUCH!! It was a GREAT feeling!!! LOL

Carol

That's funny, Carole. I'm glad you enjoyed your frenzy! And you got your potted roses in the ground now, so that's a very good thing.

The few times I've shovel-pruned a rose, I've felt like a murderer :-) And I've sometimes wished I had the rose back, later on.

Randy

Now i am reminded as to why i don't have any austins, i need to discover the sp resistant varieties.

Although anything is possible I don't think I'll be overcome with shovel pruner's remorse anytime in the near future. All five of those dogs have been asking for it for quite some time. Even this spring when the rest of the yard looked glorious all they did was sputter and tease.

In defense of Austins....the two that were banished are older varieties and probably poorly suited to be own root roses. I have plenty of others that have lived up to the hype of an Austin Rose. One in particular that I noticed last evening that is still blooming like a champ despite the heat and the beetles is the Huntington Rose (Alan Titchmarsh). Anyone else having any luck with this newer Austin?

Carole

When I SP'd 5 early this spring, I vowed not to replace them. It was my objective to make rose growing easier by creating more space between the roses. It was sad because they all grew and bloomed pretty well. Tough decisions. Sometimes, less is more.

I know the feeling well! Sometimes it takes a tough heart and strong back. What did you put in their places?

Barbara

You are a brave shovel woman. I did a similar thing with pruners and loppers. I am not one to keep a naughty rose either. Kudos to you for planting in this heat!

Carla

I found a solution !!!!!---When DH's veggie garden became too shady ---I adopted the space --named it "Elba" and naughty roses are sent into exile---At least they have a fighting chance and believe it or not some have flourished-(It is their choice)--LOL-

Florence

I have an exile garden as well. (call mine the Island of Misfit Toys) Hubby hates to do in anything - "but it is still alive!" so that has become his garden. Course he never does a thing for them, but surprisingly many are doing well there.

The response to "But it is still alive" is
What color is the bloom and is it a single or double?

That has, at least, worked here.

mdseagull I agree with your hubby---"but it is still alive"----LOL LOL
I think some roses repond to being ignored.

Florence

I know the feeling out went Bella Donna 3 weeks ago...she was not supposed to sprout 7 ft canes bye bye also Jeune Henry (portland beauty) but I saw one bloom last year and 2 the year before and balled and rotted this year....no repeat for me. My next victim is going to a good home who will tolerate it's black spot Royal Amber

perhaps someone should start or is there one already, a homeless or humane shelter for roses?

I hate it but I don't have enough sunshine to create a garden in exile. I do a tomato & basil bed and if I get tired of them (fat chance!) I guess that might do. But my tomato plants have produced fruit into November in the past so it is worth it to me to spare that sunny spot.

I did get a bit of a sore shoulder out of my frenzy...but managed to absorb some Vitamin D working in that South Carolina sunshine. Good for my bones but probably added a wrinkle or two. Oh well....

As far as the replacements...let me think. Queen Mab was one. The Bukavu and Sibelius I got from Cliff went into the front of one bed. I also finally planted Centenaire des Lourdes....and a couple other Delbards that I had here waiting for space.

Time to go water them!

Carole

I love the exile plot names--Elba! Island of Misfit Toys! Mine are in the former spot I granted my pot ghetto (which became my in-the-ground trailer court instead). Constance Spry is going to join them there when fall comes.

I do a tomato & basil bed and if I get tired of them (fat chance!) I guess that might do. But my tomato plants have produced fruit into November in the past so it is worth it to me to spare that sunny spot.
* * *
Tomatoes are my first gardening love. Even when I decided to do just cutflowers this year I still ended up with four tomato plants in amongst them. Heirlooms mostly.
I feel growing roses and tomatos balance each other out nicely.

I really liked the names of the exile beds too.

The tomatoes that I grow are all heirloom varieties. Several years ago I stumbled upon a man that was selling German Johnsons at the Farmers Market. Since then I am convinced that they are the best. Occasionally I can find heirlooms available at the local grocery store but they're expensive.

Nothing like a good mater sammich. ;-)

Carole