This Question is for all you Rose Gardeners out there: I'm new at this, just started my garden this year.?

Question

I planted David Austin roses and I'm following the instructions closely to care for them. One thing I did not see mention in his instructions with regards to trimming back the flowers for a second blush. There is new growth, spindly and tall, no flower buds on them. Do I let them grow or are they suckers? Only knowledgable people answer please, I want to grow the best rose garden this side of Halifax. Thanks fellow rose lovers.

Thanks for all the advice. D. Austins advice for new plants was to cut the first cut back to 2 or three groupings of leaves after the first flowering. The second cut comes after the second blush of flowers and then you only trim back to the first set of five leaves. This is to establish a good shape to the plant. Yes I'm sure they will flower again, they are repeat flowering shrubs, the "Mary Rose" which was my mom's name.

Answer 1

David Austin is a specific "brand" of roses from one breeder. Some of his roses grow like climbers, others like hybrid teas etc.

"Mary Rose" is one I've seen in person before and it grows like a 'grandiflora', with larger flowers in clusters.

When you remove dead flowers, cut the stem or cane, back to where the cane is the thickness of a pencil, just above a leaf. The thicker the stem, the larger the flower that will be produced. And a thick stem will support the weight of the blossom. The 5-leaflet rule is intended to get you down far enough, but don't be afraid to go further. Roses grow like crazy, and bloom like crazy too. Sometimes you can end up with 'blind' canes. That is to say, no flower develops. Treat them as you would a cane after blooming. Cut it back! After you cut the cane, apply a little 'Elmer's glue' to the end. That will prevent rose borer from entering the cane.

Several answerer's think that you might have 'suckers'. They would come up from the ground, and those, if present should be removed. It sounds more like 'blind wood' to me.

I'd also suggest a good rose fertilizer. I like 'rose tone' from Espoma. It's a nice mostly organic fertilizer applied once per month.

I hope that this helps
Good luck

Answer 2

The spindly growth sounds like suckers. Try to remove them below the soil level. If you remove the spent flowers ,the bush should continue to bloom most of the summer. Fertilize every 2 weeks with a rose fertilizer and spray every 2 weeks with a fungicide although I think David Austen roses are not prone to mildew. Wait for Spring to prune the bushes back 1/3 and prune where there is a 5 leaf stem . Sounds like you are enjoying gardening. It's a great pastime but the summer goes by so fast. Make sure you smell them often and take pictures to look at when the snow flies.

Answer 3

suckers only come from the base of the plant....

new growth needs time to harden and become strong enuff to hold up a bloom before it will bud.....

trim off each bloom as it fades, back to a set of leaves that point outward and have five or more leaves on it....

what rose ?.... are you certain it will have another flush of bloom or is it a one time bloomer?.....

right now, my roses are resting thru the heat.... my flush of new blooms will come as fall approaches and the weather cools a little..... patience!!....

Answer 4

Hi, suckers grow from below the bud union. That's the knob at the base of the plant, where the canes grow from. Anything above, are rose canes,so don't cut those off. Bye

Answer 5

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