Rose questions now I've sorted the begonias :)
Orchid Lady
Posts: 5,800
in Plants
I want to plant some roses in my new borers and know nothing about roses (nothing new there then!). I've had a lo on a couple of websites at plants but seem to remember reading somewhere about buying different types and the benefits. Does anyone have any experience of roses from somewhere like Aldi/Wilkinsons? Also, my mum used to have a beautiful yellow rose with a very strong scent (a hybrid????) would anyone have any is what it would be? Thanks again in advance and for your patience with a dim newbie 
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Tracey - you are not too late to order roses barerooted if you get a wiggle on (they need to be in the soil by March). All my roses have come from David Austin - if you go on the website you can request the latest catalogue - full of advice and pictures galore. Not got any yellow ones, mine are all pink or white. Can recommend Gertrude Jekyll, winchester cathedral and shropshire lad.
The heat in the shops of the ones in aldi wilkinsons tend to force them into growth a bit so have a good look at which ones you choose.
I like "Graham Thomas" from David Austin which is yellow and scented and "The Pilgrim", which is a paler yellow with a cream edge and delicately scented.
I love all their English roses which flower more than once and are scented, especially pink and crimson.
Teasing Georgia is another good rich yellow rose which will also climb to 2 metres depending on how you prune it. Malvern Hills is a short climber with paler yellow roses.
Gertrude Jekyll has amazing perfume. I also have William Shakespeare, Sceptr'd Isle, Geoff Hamilton, Queen of Sweden, Tess of the D'Urbevilles, Falstaff, Crocus Rose, Generous Gardener (climber) and Benjamin Britten - all David Austin roses. I have Jaqueline Duprée on order and will probably order Harlow Carr too - all David Austin roses but I also have a Kiftsgate which is a huge rambler.
As I live in Belgium I get mine ready potted from a nursery in the Ardennes who delivers them to me at a local plant fair in May so I don't have to gamble on bare root roses surviving my winters.
I wouldn't buy roses from supermarkets - labelling, quality and disease resistance are generally poor. I'd rather pay more and get a good plant that does what it says on the label. Make sure you check out the planting and pruning advice on the DA website too to ensure success with your new roses.
I love Iceberg, but can't spend ??40 on one plant at the moment, so am going to opt for the fragrant collection offer, 5 for ??59.95 - Gertrude Jekyll, Claire Austin, Lady Emma Hamilton, Golden celebration and can't decide on the 5th.
Thanks for your help and recommendations.
I'd go for 5 different ones to spread the blooming period, flower forms and colours a bit but space them a bit with perennials so they don't fight with each other.