COMING UP ROSES
NOW’S THE TIME TO PLUG THOSE GAPS IN YOUR FLOWER BEDS
THERE are very few last chances in gardening. Generally speaking, things will catch up if you are late planting them.
But at this time of year, there is a need to commit to the ground those plants dug up from nursery rows while dormant and planted bare-root – with no soil clinging to them.
When container-grown plants came to prominence in the early 1960s, the need to plant trees, shrubs and roses in the dormant season between November and March was alleviated.
With their roots safely established in the likes of a polythene bag or a catering-sized tomato can, plants could be safely transplanted at any time of year. This meant the planting season was extended throughout the full 12 months of the year.
And bare-root planting became much less popular.
This is a great state of affairs if you are making a garden in June or July. You can produce instant effects by planting a container-grown rose.
But if you are planting in those five months of reliable dormancy (which are now coming to an end), you would often be going to unnecessary expense by planting stuff that had been cherished in containers and, by virtue of the labour involved in their production, would cost you considerably more money.
I am not suggesting you have no truck with container-grown trees, shrubs and roses – far from it. They have transformed gardening, and our gardens would be all the poorer without them.
But at this time of year, if you want to plant roses, shrubs or small trees, they will all transplant very happily in the bare-root state. Hedging plants, in particular, represent far better value for money.
Roses have always established rapidly when dug up in autumn, winter and early spring to be replanted in decent soil enriched with a generous helping of well-rotted manure or compost. It seems sad that more gardeners do not avail themselves of their adaptability and save several pounds in so doing.
So look around your garden for any gaps and feel free to plug them with trees, shrubs and roses that have been dug up over the last few weeks.
If the roots are trimmed (removing straggly ends) and they are soaked in a bucket of water overnight, they will romp away during the next few months and you can spend the money you save on other garden beauties.
At this time of year roses transplant very happily in the bare root state. Alan Titchmarsh