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Just shovel-pruned my first rose!

16 years ago

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later..."Peace" bit the dust after 12 years under our bay window. I expected to have some conflicting emotions about my first SP, but the lack of scent and its status as a prime JP magnet made the decision rather easy. (Getting it out, though, was NOT!)

What about you folks? Do you long-timers on the forum still remember the first rose you ever SP'd, why you did it, and how you felt?

Rick

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Comments (6)

buford
16 years ago
Yes, a yellow disease ridden thing. It had nice blooms with good scent, but it was a JB magnet and since I SPed it, I've had many less JBs.
peachiekean
16 years ago
I took out an entire rose garden once when we added a room onto the back of the house. I did not plant them so it was not as hard. Then I found the Rose Forums and began planting all over again. So many roses, so little time.
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I agree. The root stock is a vigorous rose that will continue to grow and spread. It blooms on the previous years growth. If that growth dies back in the winter you'll not have flowers that year. Tree roses are grafted at the base, root stock to standard (tree trunk), and then again at the top with the variety that blooms. With the variety graft up in the air, it usually sucumbs to freezing temps. I've said it should be against the law to sell tree roses in northern growing zones. What happens is it dies and you've lost an expensive annual. Now there is a tree rose variety named Polar Joy that's advertised to be hardy to minus 30 degrees. Baily's nursery has perfected this. It's all one plant with no grafts. I have one but it's planted in a very large pot and brought into my unheated greenhouse each winter. The flowers are single five petaled pink blooms. It's available on-line from Jung's Seeds or look for it at nurseries that carry plants from Baily's nursery. Here is a link that might be useful: Polar Joy at Jungs Seeds.
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If it's possible to propagate some of Frances Grate's Tea for Kippy to try, that would be the best thing, then she can how it does in her setting. I have a similar dilemma with Homere. I really don't like its little flowers and the way that they ball, but it's a gorgeous healthy plant and there are very few sources in the US. Take it out of my home garden or not? Every year, I consider doing it, and don't. The cemetery specializes in found roses, and I bought this from Paul Barden years ago. If it weren't a commercial rose, I'd dig it up, plant it in the cemetery and be glad that it's gone! (Peggy Martin said that she once saw a Homere that had huge flowers and she's coveted it ever since - mine are about the size of Mlle Cecile Brunner. Since Homere was another popular buttonhole rose, I think that my blooms are the right size...) Anita
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Redsnowflake. I just wanted to say you don't need to apologize to anyone for your asthetic preferences when it comes to roses. Certainly learning the history of roses and their development through hybridizing can be fascinating and worthwhile. But I, for one, have known all that for quite some time and still greatly prefer the hybrid tea/florist rose types. I call that "Progress!" Just kidding. I know its simply all a matter of personal preference. Too bad you aren't closer. I posted a few days ago that I have 4 roses that I'm looking for homes for, but so far no one has responded. But I'm not prepared to ship any of them. All but one are at least 3 years old and have grown beyond any convenient shipping size. : ( I think people often shovel prune out of convenience. Sometimes its actually hard to find people ready to take our cast-offs. I could talk to plenty of folks who would like free roses, in theory, but to actually take time to transport them, prepare a site, and plant, etc. they aren't always up for it. Too bad. Also, sometimes "shovelprune" is used in a broader sense of just getting rid of. People may say that but actually find adoptive homes for them. Finally, some bushes are just weak, and its reasonable to want to spare others the disappointment of trying to care for and nurture them only to have poor performance. Mike, in New Orleans
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posting so this will drop down in list
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Tammy Owens
16 years ago
I wouldn't call myself a long time roser. I have been addicted for a bout 4years now. I remember how shocked I was when I read that people SPed roses that weren't dead. I babied every rose, even those that were less than one cane wonders,lol. I don't remember the name of the first one but I do remember feeling guilty, that is until the rose that replaced it out performed it by leaps and bounds. Now I understand...with so many beautiful roses out there I have no patience or space for non performers. If someone wants them I will give them away...if not or they are just really bad they get SPed.

Tammy
cjrosaphile
16 years ago
My first SP was a gangling hideous rose that I can't believe people still buy and enjoy: Joseph's Coat. I had planted it beside a Fourth of July. What a joke! To my right, this magnificent specimen of a rose and on the left the pathetic twigs (no leaves) of Joseph's Coat. It had to be done after two years of enduring the ugliness. To this day when someone posts something about Joseph's Coat, I warn them about it. Not worth it to me.

The first SP is difficult, but since then, I now give away my non-performers, unless they are very bad roses. The bad ones go into the garbage can. .to the dump, to the dump, to the dump, dump, dump!!! CJ
daun
16 years ago
This uear was the most thorny roses. Swan Lake - Four caned wonder with four flowers and would scar me when I was near.
White Meidland ground cover - Bit the dust
Lady Elsie May - Wild and seemed to be more of a ball of thorns.
Daun
ceterum
16 years ago
Yes, I remember - how could I forget? The first Sp rose was Cl. Tropicana a 30' long extremely thorny monster that was able to have powdery mildew and blackspot at the same time and this same time lasted all year around. meanwhile the rose hardly bloomed except in its first year. To dig it up and to get it out from the property was a major and blood-letting enterprise.

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