David Austin Roses
David Austin Roses
I’ll admit I’m becoming addicted to roses! In my old garden I planted a single yellow rose bush, I’ve no idea looking back what kind it was but I knew I loved roses and was determined to plant one. As a child I remember picking roses from my mother’s garden, and the neighbours!, to make rose petal perfume. The scent of roses is something that always stays with you. My wedding bouquet was a bouquet of ivory roses. The first flower my husband ever gave to me was a yellow rose and yes I still have it pressed in a book! For me the evoke all sorts of memories, and I am sure they do for you as well.
Abraham Darby
I avoided planting roses here for years, they have such a reputation of being difficult. But once I started growing flowers and I discovered David Austin Roses, that was it, I had to give them a try. I ordered several bare-root ones from David Austin in the UK, which unfortunately no longer ships to Ireland. I followed their instructions regarding planting, first soaking the roots, digging a hole, adding manure and ensuring it was planted at the correct depth.
Amended! I’ve just found out (thank you Aoife!) that they just this week set up shipping to Europe, so I’m adding in a link David Austin Website .
Grace
For pruning, I also followed the very clear videos on their instagram page. Mine were first year bare root so I followed those rules, this year I will be following the instructions for more mature roses. Since feeling braver, I purchased a few other roses (non David Austin), and they can be very inexpensive (between 5 and 10), garden roses and climbers, old fashioned and hybrid tea varieties. There’s a whole world of roses out there to explore. I’ve set up two frames and planted climbers beside them so I hope they’ll fill up over time. At the side of my raised bed garden I plan to put two arches, budget and not finding exactly what I was looking for prohibited this from getting done this year, so on the list for 2022! How wonderful it would be to walk in through an arch of scented roses!
Princess Alexandra of Kent
Golden Celebration
Golden celebration has to be one of my favourite scented roses, while the colour would not be my first choice, the scent is incredible.
Olivia Rose Austin
Tranquility
Tranquility is a fuller size rose that is just so beautiful, I have it at the end of the row and it never fails to make me stop and look.
Queen of Sweden
Queen of Sweden is another real beauty and seems to be prolific. I planted two of these, in two different areas and its doing great, one is sheltered and one is exposed and it’s not making much of a difference regarding health and growth,
This is a gorgeous book if anyone wants to look up more on David Austin Roses. Its hard not to look through it like a catalogue!!
As a rather new grower to roses, I’d encourage anyone to give them a try. They are such Queens of the garden or a bouquet or an arrangement. Where to buy them from is probably the next question, I did try bareroot David Austin from an Irish source but they didn’t do well so if someone knows a good source do let me know! I did purchase a couple this summer from Altamont Gardens in Carlow, they were in full flower in pots which really is a great way to choose if you are looking for a particular colour or are drawn to scent!
Thank you for taking the time to read and have a wonderful day
Maria