Roses, positioning of

My three roses, Rhapsody in Blue, Oranges and Lemons and Sunseeker are in a line forming a "hedge" next to the hyrid Lantanas. The roses started off well but as the Lantana grew (at a rapid pace) the roses got straggly, I assume due to the light being blocked by the Lantana, which I try to keep at 5-6 foot. Basically they are Northeast facing.

The Sunseeker, a patio rose (18"), achieved the height of 5-1/2 feet and was straggly. The R in B did nothing after it's first blooming and hte O and Ls could have put on a better show.

I've just pruned them but am wondering should I uproot them (they have all been in their present location about two years) and try to find space for them in a sunnier location? If so, how close could I "cram" them together?

Any advice or suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.

 

Roses will grow in virtually any conditions - much tougher than people tend to think, so you can do with them as you please, LoL. The 2 things I would try would be a good hard pruning back, a bit now to avoid wind-rock (don't know if that's much of a problem in your place, though) and a heavier prune before they get going in spring, traditionally in Feb over here. Then give them a chance for this year, and if that doesn't encourage them to bush out a bit, I'd try your other idea of moving them. I wouldn't do both in the same winter.

If you've just given them a light prune, it would be ok to move them, since they aren't all that well established if they're only 2 years old - in whatever you have for a dormant season! I'd say not closer together than about half a metre - and that would be cramming, IMO!! :D

 

Thanks, dendro. It was a pretty hard prune so maybe best to let them go for another year and massacre the Lantana instead! :D :D

Plus the Cobaea is attacking them all the time as it's taken over that little pergola! :eek:

 

You have such a different life over there, Lol! I can just picture you out there, hacking stuff back with a machete that we'd be tenderly coaxing into life over here!! :D

BTW, I've just ordered some seeds of the dicentra scandens and another climbing one, macrocapnos? - would you like a few of both?

 

RHS advice on rose pruning

"With the exception of ramblers, most roses can be pruned during late winter when growth is just resuming, usually mid-February in the south, but in northern and colder areas wait until March."

 

Hi, wiseoldowl, and thank you for that input.

I love my Oranges and Lemons (I think ID'd for me by Liz?) such a heady scent, more beautiful in bud than full bloom and it is a "blousy" flower.

Sunseeker has a lovely bud but opens fully to an open flower. Sweetly scented. Another from B&Q, as was Rhapsody in blue. Here's a pic which sadly not does show it's irridesence ...



Dendro, will e you tomorrow re seeds as I have some you may be interested in, okay!