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The Mill on the Floss Rose

VoyagerxpVoyagerxp Posts: 650
in Plants
Has anyone got David Austin The Mill on the Floss rose, Ive had mine for a few years and every year it fall over under the weight of the flowers. This spring i cut it right back to the ground but its come back the same. Last year i ended up trying hold it up with dalia stakes and string. Any ideas on why or what i may be doing wrong.





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  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,426
    Not one of their better efforts, I kept it for 3 full years which is generous for me and couldn't wait to get shot of it.. I felt that was long enough, it grows tall and lanky with floppy canes, clusters of blooms stuck on the ends.. individual blooms are pretty with a picotee edge, which is the only remarkable thing about it. 
    I was left wondering why they bothered releasing it..  

    All you can do is what you did before, put stakes in and tie to those, which isn't uncommon for large shrub roses, but you've got to think it's worth it..
    East Anglia, England
  • VoyagerxpVoyagerxp Posts: 650
    So its not just mine Marlorena, I've got many DA roses and your right its the worst i've brought from them. I was thinking of persevering with stakes again this year but do you think it would be possable to climb it up a obelisk, one just high enough to climb up.



  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,426
    I had mine on an obelisk, but it quickly outgrew it..  I think I'd want 2 for yours, one each side as it's so large, but again you have to ask yourself if it's worth the trouble..
    East Anglia, England
  • pri8careAZ9-mZYppri8careAZ9-mZYp Posts: 2
    Phew! I thought it was my fault that this lovely scented rose was mainly foliage, thin stems and few blooms. I’ve had it now for three years tried pruning carefully then more aggressively and even tried ‘pegging’ the wispy stems in the hope of more and larger blooms. Tried different fertilisers and watering methods Still disappointed. Can’t bring myself to throw it away so will move it against a trellis at rear of garden. I think it may do better treated as a small climber. I would say it prefers partial shade rather than constant sun.
  • VoyagerxpVoyagerxp Posts: 650
    Mine is still in the same place, thought about getting rid but like you haven't got the heart. Earlier this year i pruned it very hard to see if it would put on stronger stems, i will see.
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