Rose Zombie
June 17, 2017 5:48 AM Subscribe
How can I convince an undead rose to cooperate and bloom?
Two years ago we had our patio redone, which involved reconfiguring some beds. At the time, I asked the landscaper if we could move the (somewhat generic hybrid) rose bush that was going to be torn out along with everything else. He said that roses don't transplant well because of the taproot, and I'd be better off just picking up a new, cheap rose bush to plant in its place.
What he NEGLECTED to mention is that, while unsympathetic to transplanting, roses are also impossible to kill. Last summer, I was amused and heartened to see little canes coming up where the bush had been. They didn't have any buds, but I figured, "that rose has been through a lot -- I'm sure next year will be different."
This March, thinking I was doing the right thing, I trimmed back the canes.
This year, I now have a huge bush comprised entirely of blind shoots. UGH. I just want some damn roses for my troubles! I don't think I can remove the bush, because I'm concerned I can't dig a big enough hole to eradicate its presence from the earth without affecting some nearby honeysuckles.
Is there anything I can do right now to encourage blooms?
What should I do in the fall/early spring to encourage blooms?
Failing that, is there anyway to, uh, pull the plug on this guy without destroying everything in its path?
HALP.
(and before you ask, yes, this rose has bloomed -- our first two summers here before we redid the patio there were some nice if pedestrian flowers)
Two years ago we had our patio redone, which involved reconfiguring some beds. At the time, I asked the landscaper if we could move the (somewhat generic hybrid) rose bush that was going to be torn out along with everything else. He said that roses don't transplant well because of the taproot, and I'd be better off just picking up a new, cheap rose bush to plant in its place.
What he NEGLECTED to mention is that, while unsympathetic to transplanting, roses are also impossible to kill. Last summer, I was amused and heartened to see little canes coming up where the bush had been. They didn't have any buds, but I figured, "that rose has been through a lot -- I'm sure next year will be different."
This March, thinking I was doing the right thing, I trimmed back the canes.
This year, I now have a huge bush comprised entirely of blind shoots. UGH. I just want some damn roses for my troubles! I don't think I can remove the bush, because I'm concerned I can't dig a big enough hole to eradicate its presence from the earth without affecting some nearby honeysuckles.
Is there anything I can do right now to encourage blooms?
What should I do in the fall/early spring to encourage blooms?
Failing that, is there anyway to, uh, pull the plug on this guy without destroying everything in its path?
HALP.
(and before you ask, yes, this rose has bloomed -- our first two summers here before we redid the patio there were some nice if pedestrian flowers)
If you decide to kill it, you might try dipping each cane briefly (bending it over, not cutting it) into a cup of Round Up (shudder) or other herbicide. The poison supposedly travels down the stalk and kills the root. This I was told; never tested it.
posted by The otter lady at 8:01 AM on June 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by The otter lady at 8:01 AM on June 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Graft a rose that will bloom onto it.
posted by aniola at 9:12 AM on June 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by aniola at 9:12 AM on June 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
On using RoundUp to kill things: cut stalks off near the ground and paint with glyphosate. Ideally, do this in the fall when the plant is translocating sugars from the leaves to the roots.
Honeysuckles (even the "noninvasive" hybrids) are pretty durable in my experience, I'd probably just take a crack at digging the rose up.
posted by momus_window at 9:40 AM on June 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Honeysuckles (even the "noninvasive" hybrids) are pretty durable in my experience, I'd probably just take a crack at digging the rose up.
posted by momus_window at 9:40 AM on June 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Expanding on mygoditsbob's point: the older, tougher, less disease-prone roses that make good rootstocks often bloom only on old wood, so your pruning this spring was exactly wrong for flowers this summer BUT! may have set you up for an amazing show *next* year. http://www.heirloomroses.com/info/care/how-to/pruning/
I value woody plants that take care of themselves, so I would probably just tie this year's growth into a shape I liked and wait to see if it bust out attractively next year. If not, grafting something onto it is a great idea.
I have a probable rootstock rose that has survived three times being cut back to the ground, once accidental, and it has handsome deep burgundy flowers on it right now, and the shrubs around it have filled in so I just weave it in occasionally and it's making a nice tapestry hedge.
posted by clew at 12:58 PM on June 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
I value woody plants that take care of themselves, so I would probably just tie this year's growth into a shape I liked and wait to see if it bust out attractively next year. If not, grafting something onto it is a great idea.
I have a probable rootstock rose that has survived three times being cut back to the ground, once accidental, and it has handsome deep burgundy flowers on it right now, and the shrubs around it have filled in so I just weave it in occasionally and it's making a nice tapestry hedge.
posted by clew at 12:58 PM on June 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: WOw -- never occurred to me that the rose that remains is no longer a hybrid. Fascinating! And makes a lot of sense. Grafting is not something I had ever considering doing, but if next year is still a bust I will consider it. And consider the scorched earth policy. So many options. Thanks!
posted by Mrs. Rattery at 6:23 PM on June 17, 2017
posted by Mrs. Rattery at 6:23 PM on June 17, 2017
Many rootstocks are this guy. One big show of red flowers in the spring. We have one; presumably it used to be something else, but I don't mind -- actually I kind of like it.
posted by doomsey at 7:08 PM on June 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by doomsey at 7:08 PM on June 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
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I'd suggest that you are not seeing the hybrid anymore, just the climber. If that is the case, you may just want to dig it up and start again.
posted by mygoditsbob at 6:20 AM on June 17, 2017 [5 favorites]