Spacing Dilemma for Austins in Northern California

16 years ago

DH scratched the idea of growing Austins on arbor. He had good point that the narrow walkway will be even more constructed with two thorny rose growing into it. Beside that arbor would have blocked the view from patio to the rest of the yard.

Back to square one of growing my roses as bush rather than climbers. I have a long and narrow area of 17' x 5' and an area of 4'x4' on the other side of walk way. I have one Golden Celebration, one Ab. Darby, one Crown Princess Margarete, and two Falstaff which I hear are monsters in here. How do I place these roses in these spaces? Is there enough space to grow them or should I give them away?

Any idea is greatly appreciated since I am turning gray over this issue.

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Comments (4)

jerijen
16 years ago
Any idea is greatly appreciated since I am turning gray over this issue. FJ

*** DON'T GO GRAY OVER IT!!!
I can't help you with all of this, but I can tell you that Golden Celebration is a big, but upright, plant in Southern California, and should be for you.
I SAY that a healthy GC is about 6 ft. tall, and maybe 5 ft wide.
(I noticed the other day that one of mine has a good 10-ft cane which is trying to clamber into a nearby tree.)
In general, it will be shaped like: \/ and smaller roses can be planted near it.
As to Abe Darby -- why not use a tripod of long poles for him? You can wind his long canes around it, and he should only take up mabey 4 ft of horizontal space.

Jeri
wanttogarden
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Jeri.

So you are saying if I dedicate a space of 6x6 for each one I should be ok horizontally? I guess they can grow into each other a little or spill over the lawn. I do not have any problem with how tall they get at least not at this time. And the idea of planting smaller roses 3x3 (?) near them is a belief. I was wondering what to do with my other roses.

Can you elaborate on tripod idea? Do you mean like a tee-pee or obelisk or multiple columns?

FJ
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So far, Darcey Bussell has been my best DA performer. She’s not a favorite, only because I prefer softer colors. She remains “fairly” compact, relative to most DA’s here. She never seems to mind pruning, no matter when or how often. She blooms all the time and makes a better cut flower than most DA’s. I don’t get any disease on her here, although Embothrium has big problems with something like downey mildew on Darcey Bussell. I don’t think that’s in a dry Mediterranean climate, though. Mine is always healthy and happy. She’s in a rather small bed, so she’s cut back often. She doesn’t receive more water than anything else does, and doesn’t seem to need it. My soil is clay, so it does retain water well and is full of nutrients. Abraham Darby on the other hand, DOES want extra water here. I have never experienced rust(other than on hollyhocks), until recently. I’d been very busy over the past month or so, and must have slacked off on watering, just a little. Nobody minded except for AD. This, combined with the wind and 3-5% humidity produced a spectacular case of rust on Abraham Darby. Even though I’ve never seen rust on my roses before, it’s so bad that there’s no mistaking what it is. I’m not even sure what to do about it. I’m giving him lots of extra water, and thinking of pruning him down to almost the ground. I’m worried about spreading the rust, even while pruning. Last night, I went out late to move the hose with my headlamp on. I removed a spent bloom from AD, and in the light beam I could see tiny dust like particles floating off. I can only assume they were rust particles. I fear that while pruning the rust will blow everywhere. So AD definitely wants extra water. He’s brought me my first case of rust on a rose bush. And oh yes, of course, he grows huge in our kind of climate. Lisa
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jerijen
16 years ago
6 x 6 -- IN MY EXPERIENCE -- should be fine.

Tee-Pee/Tripod. Three sturdy poles, preferrably wired together at the top. Long canes can wind around it.
You don't need this for G.C., but maybe it would be good for Abe. Some use sturdy wooden poles, some use rebar, some use those green poles they sell at nurseries.

See link for another idea. This idea from the Sacramento City Cemetery should also should work for Abe Darby. You might call this a "girdle" made of sturdy hardware cloth. Use the green-coated kind, and you barely see it.
You know -- I would suggest that you might take a day trip to the Sacramento City Cemetery, and see some of the things they've done there, with big roses.
It's getting close to my favorite time of the year there anyhow.

Jeri

Here is a link that might be useful:
wanttogarden
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, That was a lot of help. I am cutting into the grass and widening the bed today. Is Ab Darby V shape too or it is more rounded bush? I know people grow Crown Princess M. as climber, so maybe I can use the tripod idea for that too.

I have another stupid question, please pardon my ignorance. Is the rose Jeni Jennings named after you? It sure is beautify rose.

FJ

Spacing Dilemma for Austins in Northern California

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Spacing Dilemma for Austins in Northern California

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