| Hi I love roses .The problem is they dont love me .Every year they wind up with spots. Some flower some dont. Can you please tell me about old roses .They say thay are very hardy .Where can I find these roses. What are they actially called Thanks. |
| There are many varieties of old roses or old garden roses or old shrub roses, and now there are modern roses bred to include some of the hardiness and disease resistance and occasionally fragrance of the so-called old roses. It is so complex I would suggest you might look at a book or two about roses. Once I like is "Roses for Dummies" by Lance Walheim, ISBN 0-7645-5031-4. In it you will find discussions of the many types of roses, suggestions for selecting roses that will do well in the growing conditions you have to offer, instructions for planting the roses and step by step care information including winter protection, pruning, and trouble shooting. There are also specific plant lists of roses with particular attributes. In the meantime, my personal suggestion would be to start with a rugosa rose, either the species or a named variety. These are tough, cold hardy, require minimal pruning, and produce beautiful flowers. They also resent being sprayed and have very few pest or disease problems. |
