Ludwig’s rose corner

Visit ludwigsroses.co.za and send queries to gardens@homemag.co.za. Q: My standard ‘Germiston Gold’ roses are not performing as well as they used to; are they a casualty of the drought?

Standard roses are somewhat artificial with the bud union completely exposed on a 1m-high stem, unlike a normal bush rose where the bud union is kept fresh by the surrounding soil. The water and nutrients need to go up a long, relatively narrow stem to the crown, then the sap with sugar needs to take the same long journey down narrow tubes to the roots. So, yes, it is likely that the hot and dry summer will have put extra strain on your standard roses.