Roses

We grow We grow a range of Roses suitable for growing in local gardens. They are potted on in small batches of each variety, so while we grow many varieties only some of them will be on sale at any one time.

We grow several varieties of each of the following groups of Roses (they are listed in order of height, starting with the smallest):

Some of these varieties are covered by plant breeders rights legislation - see information page (home page menu).

MINIATURE ROSES. £2.08 each.

Good for pots,

rockeries,

low beds or borders.

GROUND-COVER ROSES £4.09 each.

Best used for covering bankings, etc. Do not try to confine, they are rampant; not for mixing with other plants.

PATIO ROSES £4.09 each.

A cross between Miniature and Floribunda roses, they will flower throughout the summer months if pruned correctly (if necessary, pruning advice is given whenever a rose is purchased).

FLORIBUNDA ROSES £2.86 and £4.09 each.

These are mainly cluster-flowering varieties producing a large number of small to medium-sized flowers. Ideal for making rose beds.

HYBRID TEA ROSES £2.86 each.

Large, individual flowers. Ideal for making rose beds.

SHRUB ROSES £2.86 each.

These larger-growing roses need little pruning and, as their name suggests, are better planted in a shrubbery.

PATIO CLIMBING ROSES £4.75 each.

Miniature,

climbing roses,

suitable for growing

in large pots or tubs.

NOTE - the far more vigorous rambling and climbing roses are not recommended for planting in tubs as they are sure to grow too large to be supported by the relatively small amount of soil in the tub and the amount of water that it can hold.

RAMBLER ROSES £3.26 each.

These are mainly cluster-flowering varieties producing a large number of small to medium-sized flowers. Most need little pruning (unlike climbing roses) and are good for planting on fences.

CLIMBING ROSES £3.26 each.

Large, hybrid-tea-like blooms. The traditional rose for house walls. Spectacular, but usually fewer flowers than on rambler roses.

FEEDING:

Roses live for a very long time and should be fed on a regular basis to keep the growth healthy and the flowering prolific. If you do not, they may gradually impoverish the soil, diminishing the quality of both foliage and flowers. There are many good products on the market, we always prefer to use those made entirely or partially from an organic base.

Roses and the use of pesticides.

Over the last thirty-five years we have noticed throughout the area a steady increase in the prevalance of rose, fungal diseases such as Rust and Blackspot. They now seem to be as common in this part of West Yorkshire as they are in the rest of the country.

We believe that a major contributing factor to this phenomenon is the successful and very welcome history of smoke-control-zone implementation.

Heavy, sulphur deposits from open-fire, coal burning are no longer experienced; these would probably have acted as a fungal depressant.

Many of the newer varieties of roses (and some of the older ones) are disease resistant. This resistance may be improved by the use of seaweed-based foliar-feeds.

Unfortunately, being resistant does not mean that they are immune, so applications of fungicide are often found to be necessary. Without these applications the disease will spread and become more difficult to eradicate.

If you are thinking of growing roses, but don't want to use any form of pesticide at all, it would probably be better to grow something else instead. We grow an extensive range of hardy, flowering shrubs which are less likely to need spraying.

Fungal attacks will resume the following year due heavy rainfall splashing soil particles containing disease spores onto the new leaves - be ready.

Insect Pests:

Always tackle infestations before they become too serious, small groups of aphids can be removed between finger and thumb taking care not to damage plant tissue (being Green and squeamish is not an option).

Look out for the presence of natural predators, they may be able to handle the outbreak.

If you must spray, act early and only treat the affected area, this should lead to the use of much less pesticide.

We do not sell any form of pesticide, but would point out that if aphids (greenfly or blackfly) need to be sprayed there are pesticides on the market which are not supposed to affect such beneficial insects as bees, lacewings or ladybirds.