Rose hedge

Planted some small rosa rugosas a couple of years ago to get a good hedge and they are at last getting established. I have cut them back by a third in November as suggested by the supplier and this year they are filling out nicely. However, there are lots of suckers which are appearing in between the plants and if I remove all of these the hedge will look a bit bare. Is it necessary to remove all suckers? If I leave them will they weaken the plants? Will they bear flowers? Help!

 

I'm not a great rose grower, in fact I'm pretty useless at roses.
Having said that, I dont think you need to remove suckers from hedging type roses, as I dont think they are grafted plants, ie. the suckers are the same plant as the hedge therefore they should flower.
Hope someone corrects me if i'm wrong. :D
pete

 

Depends on if the rosa rugosas were grafted stock, if they were then no, or at least not the rose your growing, possibly briar stock (tear the suckers off rather than cutting them back), if not then possibly yes. But be warned, I have a rose rugosas grown from a cutting by a friend and the variety (d'la hey) I am advised by a rose expert friend can have delusions of grandeur. So far not, but its certainly vigorous - but oh the perfume.