Floppy Harlow Carr

Hello!

This is a Harlow Carr rose in its 2nd year (bought as a container plant towards end end of last summer). It was pruned in Feb. I don't think a lot of the heavy rain we have had has helped it at all. It seems to have grown reallh leggy and collapsed. I've had to try to stake it up and tie it etc, but it's just a complete mess. Would it tolerate been pruned back again to a neater framework and sacrificing some flowering this year? It's looking unhealthy and quite black spotty too...

 

@Nickoslesteros , I don't think a good prune would hurt your rose but as you say, you might lose some flowering. It could benefit from having an obelixx in that pot so you could gently tie the new growth to it in a controlled fashion. Hopefully you may find that it will become stronger in it's third year. Do you know what is the expected height/spread of that particular rose?

 

It could do with some support I agree. It has had heavy rain but has it had it recently? We have had some warm weather, did you water it? Rain doesn't always get into pots when it slides off the leaves. Roses in pots need a lot more watering than roses in the ground. When you water it you could add a dose of Tomorite to the water as you do when watering tomatoes.

 

3ft x 3ft, one of their smaller ones. I did have some hazel canes in a pyramid, but they didn't help. Might look in to something like an obelixx. Cheers!

 

Well, it never rely recovered from the weeks of rain we had a few weeks ago. Then, I just admit I let it get a bit dry for a few days too - and normally I am on top of watering! Maybe I'll cut her back a bit, tie in and feed...

 

I don't grow roses, but looking at your pic, it seems to be leaning a lot, so perhaps it's in too shady a site? That would happen with any plant unless it's a shade lover.
The pot is also one of those tall narrow ones, so maybe that isn't ideal either. If you had a wider one, that would allow the roots to spread out, which will help to stabilise it, and also have a lot more capacity, which means more available moisture and nutrients.

 

I have grown a Harlow Carr rose in a large container for several years and it has always grown in an open, floppy lax way so I assumed that was its natural way of growing. It has always done well until this year when it looks decidedly poorly. Blackspot, no flowers, hardly any foliage and die back. The excessive rain, wind and spells of draught have obviously not suited it. Yours may be the same.

 

That sounds as if the problem is just the support then @Goldenlily26 , so maybe a better one is all that's needed

 

It probably gets a good six to seven hours there of sunlight. True, the pot isn't huge. I have another rose in a half barrel (Eustacia Vye) and it does brilliantly.

 

Ah. yes. Maybe. I think I will cut back a lot of it and build something a little more suitable to tie it to (if I have and Hazel canes left)

 

I think Harlow Carr is meant to grow floppy. A change from the stiff upright varieties. The soft growth pattern is a good foil to other roses. If i

ts growth does not suit then it should not be too difficult to find a similar alternative, there are so many roses on the market now.
Why pick a fight with it when it is just doing what comes naturally?