David Austin over "Winter" in Orlando

11 years ago

I am only into my second year growing Roses.... I have 5 David Austin bushes (three in pots, two in the ground).

I am putting the three in pots in the ground next month.

I kept expecting the roses to go into some type of dormancy.. but they really have not (although they are looking a little sad because I have not fed them in almost 2 months). My 2 yr old Abraham Darby is still covered in buds/blooms.

I read that we prune our roses here around Valentine's Day.. but then I read we don't have to prune David Austin.?

I only have one plant that is going on two years old.. my first, Abraham Darby and it's so incredible! It's over 6" tall but very lanky and has mostly very long octopus canes. I have no idea how to prune it (if I should? it's still blooming very nicely and I wanted it to be a climbing rose - it's on a wall).

I also would love some advise on fertilizer. I bought two bags of the David Austin fert. when I ordered my last batch of roses last year at $20 a bag and I know there are other good fertilizers that won't cost me over $50 with shipping.

What would you suggest? Something I can buy at Lowes would be a good start for me.. if there is a good rose fert. there.

I have questions about planing the other three, amending the soil.. etc.. but I think I should start another thread about that!

I am going to be a life long rose addict I can already tell. My last flush of Abraham's almost blew my mind. I just ordered three six more bushes!

Comment (1)

thonotorose
11 years ago
Hi there,

Roses really do not go dormant here in Florida, except perhaps in the sweltering heat and damp of summer. Many will look pretty bad then but will move into their glory in the fall/winter.

AD grows like that. Since you have it on a wall, I suggest that you fertilize to force basal breaks (*see below) on or around Feb 14th. The new canes will be more flexible than your older ones and you will be able to train them low and horizontal. From there, they will send up laterals and you will get many more blooms.

Re fert; I use citrus fertilizer when I use a chem fert and sometimes the liquids such as miracle grow. However what mine love the most is organics. Wood chips, manures, oak leaves, etc.

Can you let me know where you got your DA's? I am curious as to whether they are on fortuniana root stock or not.

FYI, a FL garden friend grows Windermere on fort (she found it at Lowes, I believe) and it is VERY fragrant and VERY healthy for her in her no spray rose garden.

* Fert to force basal breaks: Find some alfalfa pellets. Do not get with additives, salt, sugar and other stuff. Just straight alfalfa cubes or pellets. MerryMix for the pellets at your local feed store or horse cubes at tractors suppliers. Each one cost about 14$ per 50# bag.

You can soak them in water and pour the mush around the plants, but be advised, it can stink to high heaven. I usually put a quart of cubes or a couple of cups of the small pellets around the base of the plant in the root zone area. Then I water it till it is very damp. It will dissolve very nicely.

Here's the thing... In addition to nitrogen and micronutrients, alfalfa has a plant growth hormone and you will see your plants take off very quickly. And they will also send up healthy basal breaks in response. You need to make sure that those breaks are NOT from your rootstock (below the graft). If they are you can rub them off while they are still soft and green (thumb pruning).

Veronica in Thonotosassa

PS All garden web rose addicts meet over at the GW Antique Rose Forum.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rose Buds meet here...
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