David Austin

After much bullying, badgering and bribing, I have managed to convince Hubby to take me to the David Austin rose nursery this weekend! I have been thumbing through the catalog for a few weeks and looked up where they are located which is about 1 1/2 hrs from here.Of course when I mentioned it to Hubby the moaning started. He isn't terribly interested in gardening but takes care of the grass ( sort of ) and the pond. I argued that I would like to see and smell the ones which I have my eye on in which his reply was well you don't need to go mad ( I get that a lot). I then said well it isn't THAT far away and he said it's MILES away so I said well we never go ANYWHERE. ( We don't really. His idea of eating out is a drive thru at McDonalds.) I had to mention that they have FOOD there ( That's how I get him to the local garden center. ) which lessened the moaning somewhat. Anyway, I'm sure when the weekend comes I will have to get the cattle prod out just to get him to shift ( more moaning ) but I will get my way in the end! Sometimes I wonder if it's more effort than it's worth.........

 

I gave up years ago, Catztail. I do everything through mail order, which is not quite the same as going to a nice nursery and picking your own plant but is a lot less hassle.

I hope you have a great time. I've never been but other forum members have; I think there is a rose garden where you can see the ones you fancy as mature plants - always a good idea, I think.

 

I've just ordered another plant from Style Roses, even though I have NO MORE ROOM. It's another David Austin rose, 'Perdita'. Just had to have it, even if it means evicting other things. I have also acquired 'Buff Beauty', one of the Reverend Pemberton's excellent hybrid musks; I love all of them. I saw it in a sale, an absolute steal at half the usual price. I need a bigger garden ...

 

Clare, he moans about EVERYTHING so it doesn't really matter. You sort of learn to live with it.
I have about 5 or 6 different rose catalogs including the Style roses one. One of the reasons I wanted to check out David Austin is that they are well known world wide for their roses. I know they sell them in the USA. Besides that it will be a nice change of scenery. I may well decide on which ones I want and see if they are cheaper by mail order elsewhere. I will probably get at least 1 though.... I will post back on my day out and let everyone know what I thought and get some pics as well so you can see!

 

Hi

Told you to marry a Gardeners Corner man

Spruce ( a manly tree) :happydance:

 

LOL Spruce!!!! Then the argument would be about what we would be planting and how things are going to look...... Dunno...... Right now I get to do what I want!! Can't win either way..... LOL!!

 

Now there's a point though...... having a looking for love section of the forum......

 

I have planted several of David Austin's roses for several clients and always recommend them ... I also receive their catalogues in the post

have always bought online directly from their site ...

however, I will need advice on how to prune rose bushes in late winter/early spring ... I watched a video on youtube and it stated that one should keep 5-7 stems (new wood), and prune at an angle approx 1 inch above a bud, and keep the pruned stems approx 1-2 foot high ... and clear the inside growth to allow free air/ventilation ... and to prune the rose bushes when the forsythia start blooming

done this, but all the rose bushes I pruned have grown into monsters ...

as an example, catalogue states the bush will get to 600mm high ... the ones I pruned are approx 1,5 meters high and some stems are even taller? ...

told the clients it could be due to the wonder gro fertilizer I used and they believed me :o

so I will need help and advice when the time comes again for pruning ... I'm new at this!

 

Hello *dim*

David Austin's roses are the shrub type which shouldn't require a major prune. However, if you need to restrict their size you can cut them back harder - more as you would a hybrid tea. I found this on the web, which will give you the general idea:-

How to prune a hybrid tea rose

I garden in a small space so I do have to be rather brutal with my plants from time to time, but I do understand that this may be more difficult if you are dealing with other people's plants! Generally, however, roses are very resilient and will quickly bounce back if they are fed and cared for. My floribunda Margaret Merril has had an extra haircut this year, as it was becoming very straggly. It has already recovered and is producing more flowers.

 

thanks ClaraLou ... have bookmarked that link and will refer to it when the rose bushes need pruning again

 

lol this is funny but i get this with my mrs lol nag nag nag lol. i enjoy the garden and she dosnt so i get it every wk but i say shut up and get the kettle on lmao.

my last lot of roses i got was from Apuldram roses and they was very good and the roses are real nice.

 

I get the moaning if I want him to do something for me ( like go pick up some milk etc. ) or if I want to go somewhere. Oh and If there's a plant I'm not happy with and decide to get rid of. He likes to keep everything even if it is ugly as sin. Ya I tell him to shut up but it usually involves a lot of swear words........