I've found that many modern Roses will never reach full size here in hot, humid Kentucky, and have employed this method with good results. Treating 3-5 plants as one, planting them closely as the article suggests, gives the look of one really nice specimen. Not that I altogether dismiss the importance of air circulation, but it seems if a variety is prone to disease, no amount of space and air circulation will prevent the issues.

I agree with Neal.. Awesome and beautiful..how often and with what do you spray?

I don't, but rely on resistant varieties. I'm pro-choice on chemical use, but prefer to avoid them. Rita has a regular spraying schedule for hers.

Neal, you have the right idea there with the rose grouping. Now if you plant 5 different ones, different colors, you will get the effect that I have done. I like the mix of colors and the way they all fall into each other.

Stay tune to my Garden Ideas Article coming up here in Roses Week which explains in detail my Rose care routine, especially spraying.

Rita, you're most certainly doing everything right! OMG, I think yours are the most gorgeous Roses I've ever seen. You've also chosen colors that blend so beautifully together. Don't ya love breaking the "rules" so successfully.

Thanks. I planted for the effect I wanted. It turned out very well if I do say so myself.

Absolutely love the way you crowd your roses and mix the colors ! Perfect !

Ah, you just inspired me! I was looking around the garden the other day between snows, and was noticing how closely I'd planted a 'Livin' Easy' last fall, to a Meideland (sp?) Scarlet, and wondering "what was I thinking?" Ah ha! I just need to add a yellow right there too!

That sounds like a great plan to me.

There are roses I used to have that I have gotten rid of. Not because they were "bad" roses but because they grew too large for my method of planting closely.