Not happy with 'Ena Harkness' !

Morning All,

I bought this Ena Harkness climber as a bare root in March/April. Soaked as per instructions then planted at base of Pergola. I'm absolutely NEW to Rose growing, the others I have are all coming on in leaps 'n' bounds. THIS one however, is pretty weird. In the image, the tall branch on the right - should I cut that off? It's had 2 lots of small leaves that have promptly died. So far only one small bud - left of centre in image. Leaves are glossy and healthy-looking. Am I jumping the Gun a bit? Expecting too much? Advice really needed please,

Thanks

Springy in Luverly Lincolnshire!
xx

 

Sorry.... got to work out HOW to attach images!!

 

Morning wiseold and all,
Managed to upload image to an image hoster. Here is the Ena Harkness::

http://www.myalbum.com/Album=PJT86BVQ

Should I just cut off the larger branch on the right, it's the one that's had I think 2 lots of leaves now, both have died away...

Springy
x

 

for your help with this one. I think I will lop off, it's sort of growing out at an odd angle, and as the idea is to train it up the Pergola, it might be difficult.

Oh yeah - how the bally hell did you get my image on your post???

Springy
xx

 

just a Devil...




But thanks....

 

Give it some good old well rotted manure that will buck it up!:thumb:

 

I haven't got any well rotted manure ... When I planted it though, I put in the hole Rose food to start it off then again mulched with same stuff.

At the end of the season, in Autumn, I'm having a grand re-hash of the Garden. I think I'll dig it up and re-position.

NEXT IDEA::

I read somewhere that this particular Rose can be trained HORIZONTALLY along a fence. Does that sound right to you all??

S

 

Homebase usually have well rotted muck in bags, cheaper if you buy 3 bags at a time use when planting and as a mulch, good for most plants not just roses. I usually apply rose food periodically during the growing/flowering season.

Most climbers and ramblers do well trained horizontally, some varieties can easily have branches 25' long, not many places nowadays where you can let roses go that high, also try tying out some branches of other tall roses (4'+) to near horizontal or bowed, you should get short side shoots with blooms all along, not sure if this works with all varieties.


This one at Mottisfont goes high and wide

 

That's a VERY impressive Climber you have there! How many years did it take to grow that large? Many I would guess...

 

UInfortunately that's not in my garden, but at the National rose collection at Mottisfont. My one is just starting its second year, and is at about 4' high by about 5' wide, covered in bloom.

More details click here http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/pl.php?n=1366&tab=1

 

Beautiful Rose though, Mike...