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Bella Roma over 6 ft tall

15 years ago

My Bella Roma was supposed to grow to a maximun of 5 feet tall. He is planted very near the foundation, in a bed of mint; the only amendments he has received - the occasional coffee grounds sprinkled thinly on top of the soil. He's just shot up thick canes within the past month, and put out a profusion of buds on them now - and this is his third year of growth.

Also he has been quite heavily munched on by crickets and some form of grasshopper, yet remains insanely vigorous this year. Yes, even taking my still-learning-how-to-prune mistakes into consideration.

In my zone, it is not recommended to prune this late in the season. The canes are strong and thick, yet I worry that the winter winds will damage him. He has a small stake at the base because strong winds rocked him from side to side early this spring, creating a horizontal trench (which I filled in with soil from an organic potting soil bag).

Why is he so tall, and what can I do for him to ensure that he is healthy next spring? And, is there a way to keep those voracious crickets and grasshoppers from chewing his leaves?

endnote: While I do try to use organic methods, this area was sprayed for termites so I am not quite so picky here. The termite treatment was touted as bee-safe, and they do love this patch - I will not do anything that jeopardizes the bees.

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Comments (7)

kandaceshirley
15 years ago
bees tend to hang around my bella'roma too. while mine isnt' quite as large as yours it is bigger this year. Personally, I think it has to do with the weather. Were your weather conditions this year wetter than usual?
eepi
Original Author
15 years ago
Yes, indeed they were very wet conditions in early spring! I gave him some deep watering a few times when it got very hot and dry, but we've had quite a few periods of very wet weather. Perhaps that is the factor!
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hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
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There is a non-toxic control for grasshoppers and crickets--it is a microbe that infects and kills only grasshoppers and crickets, but I think you have to apply it in the spring. The name of it is Semaspore. Perhaps that might help for next year.
diane_nj 6b/7a
15 years ago
Forget "supposed to grow" if it was something that you read in a catalog. Bella'Roma is a hybrid tea, and hybrid teas can get over 7' tall in 6b if the conditions are right. Your plant seems very happy. Rain adds nitrogen to the soil, and heavy watering leads to good root growth.

If the area is windy, and you are afraid that it could get damaged in the wind, you can trim it back 2'.
buford
15 years ago
eepi, wait till after your first hard frost. Then you can 'top' your tall roses down to about 2-3 feet, whatever you prefer. This helps to prevent tall canes from blowing in the wind and getting damaged or pulled out of the ground. After the frost, the rose is dormant and will not put out new growth until it warms up in spring.

I have a Bella Roma (own root) and it's nowhere near that tall! But it's a lovely rose, isn't it?
flower2sew
15 years ago
My Bella Roma is very tall also. After it gets cold and goes dormant, cut it back to 4 feet or so. That will help keep it from getting whipped back and forth

Dawn
eepi
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you all so much! I will read up on Semaspore and will cut him back a bit after we get our first hard frost.

Indeed a beautiful rose, buford, and so fragrant! He's just outside the window of my study - when it's cool enough to have the windows open, it's like I'm sitting in a rose when I'm at the computer.

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