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Cute Ideas That Can Save You Money on Your Planting
There are many interesting ideas that can help you save money on your planting and landscaping. Most of these ideas involve a little creativity, but you end up with an attractive and distinctive yard. And some of the ideas look nice and can save you money in...
Roses - Creating Beautiful Cut Roses
Roses – Creating Beautiful Cut Roses Many gardeners like to enjoy their roses twice — first in the garden, then indoors as cut flowers. By choosing the right roses, cutting them at the proper time of day, and conditioning them after cutting, you can enjoy...
Weed Control Facts: Winning the Battle of the Weeds
Keeping your landscape plantings, flower beds, and nursery crops free of weeds is a battle, but if you approach it with...
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Not Your Grandma's Heirlooms: Three Things to Know about Heirloom Roses
What exactly are heirloom roses? Heirloom roses (also called old or antique) are all the types of roses that were in existence prior to 1867 when the first hybrid tea rose was introduced in France. The heirloom roses became less popular with gardeners...
Five Basic Tips for Beginners in Planting a Rose Garden
Many beginners to the hobby of rose gardening assume that they will have to prepare to make a great deal of fuss over their flowers. The common misconception is that all roses are delicate and liable to simply drop dead at any time. Most people are pleasantly...
Flower Meanings & History of Flowers
Flower Meanings & History The charming and delicate beauty of flowers has fascinated people of all nations and backgrounds for centuries. Flowers have been bred and cultivated for their decorative beauty as well as their ability to heal diseases. Flowers are...
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Thorn in your Side - Three Top Varieties of Roses without Thorns
It used to be that we could not imagine a rose without its thorns. We risked the pain to bask in their undeniable beauty. But now, those of us who may be particularly wary of thorns have more options than ever. Plant breeders have developed many thornless varieties of rose. Here are three top varieties of roses without thorns. So go ahead: toss aside your gardening gloves, and proceed without fear of those nasty thorns.
1) Smooth Buttercup Thornless. This variety has won praise from gardeners worldwide, winning numerous competitions and prizes. The Smooth Buttercup is a compact floribunda that produces clusters of beautiful bright golden yellow blossoms. The Smooth Buttercup Thornless is a repeat bloomer, providing a beautiful display throughout the growing season. The blossoms also produce a light, sweet fragrance.
The Smooth Buttercup Thornless is just one variety in the popular Smooth Touch Thornless rose series. Developed in California by Harvey Davidson of Western Sun Roses in 1962, the Smooth Touch Series has been popular with consumers ever since. All roses in the Smooth Touch series are 95-100% thorn free. Thorn free roses are particularly appropriate for elderly gardeners, young children, and individuals who may be susceptible to injury due to an impaired lymphatic system. Smooth Touch donates part of their profits to cancer research organizations.
2) The Banksias Rose (Rosa banksias lutea) is another excellent nearly thornless variety that has been a hit with gardeners since it was introduced in Kew Gardens nearly two centuries ago. The yellow Banksias Rose nearly bubbles over with blooms during its two month flowering season. It blooms in early autumn (September and October) in a swirl of fluffy butter-yellow nearly double bloom flowers. Although the flowers themselves are not very large, the number of small blooms creates an astounding display.
The yellow Banksias Rose is a rambling, free-flowing type of grower, but it is easy to trim and keep in place because it is nearly thornless. Unlike more conventional roses, the yellow Banksias must not be pruned in winter. Rather, it should be
trimmed in summer, after it has bloomed. The flowers of the Banksias Rose are produced on the wood from the previous growing season, so pruning in winter would result in cutting away the new season's buds and flowering wood.
The Banksias Rose admired by gardeners worldwide for its ease of growth and care. This rose bush is almost completely disease resistant. It will not require regular doses of fungicide sprays, and is not particularly fond of being fed with commercial fertilizers very often. Plant the Banksias Rose in relatively fertile, well-drained soil in a nice sunny location. Let it grow freely, clipping any wayward growth, or train it to climb alongside a trellis or wall.
3) Perhaps the most popular nearly thornless variety of rose is the Zephirine Drouhin. Named after the wife of a French rose enthusiast, the Zephirine Drouhin is a beautiful Bourbon rose that should be planted in a location where you can really enjoy its strong and sweet fragrance. The Zephirine Drouhin is a moderate climber, generally reaching heights of 10 to 12 feet, although gardeners report it can climb much higher. You can train this lovely rose bush to grow on a trellis, archway, or along the rails of a veranda or porch patio. Because it is nearly thornless, the Zephirine Drouhin is relatively easy to handle. It produces a profusion of large, dark pink blossoms that bloom from May to the first frost.
The Zephirine Drouhin rose bush is famous for its shade tolerance. It is best grown in moist, slightly acidic soil in full sun or part shade. The Zephirine Drouhin needs good air circulation for vigorous growth and to help control fungal diseases. For best flowering and to ensure the greatest disease resistance, plant Zephirine Drouhin in full sun. It should be pruned during the dormant season, and dead leaves surrounding the plant should be collected and destroyed to prevent disease. Zephirine Drouhin, like many other rose varieties, is susceptible to mildew, black spot, rust, and Rose rosette. During the active growing season, be sure to remove spent blossoms and mulch thoroughly each spring to retain moisture during the hot months.
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