How to Grow Beautiful David Austin Roses Without Breaking your Back
As most of you know we sold our “forever” house in Chualar and moved to the Paso Robles area a few years ago. We had a beautiful mature garden in Chualar that we had cultivated for many years. Our goal was to move to a smaller home on less property. We found this home which is smaller (certainly not small) one one level and the property much smaller. The only thing I truly missed from my former garden was my roses. Let’s talk about how to grow beautiful David Austin roses without breaking your back.
Last winter we tore out the modern roses that were in this existing area (all except the beautiful iceberg hedge) and replanted the bed with David Austin Roses. The beautiful copper rose arbor is by my brother in law Pete Hattersley, you can find his Etsy shop where he crafts many other beautiful trellises here.
How to Grow Beautiful David Austin Roses Without Breaking your Back
I know many of you are wondering why one would tear out a bed of hybrid tea roses. I personally prefer a rose that is pretty both in the landscape and the vase. Most modern roses are much more prone to disease which necessitates the use of chemicals. They were bred for the beauty of the single bloom and are not very pretty in the landscape (again my opinion). This is how the rose garden area looks today. We rescued a few roses from our Salinas garden (that were struggling). They are not yet thriving. They can be seen at the far end of the rose area.
When and How to Fertilize
I once followed Pat Welsh’s rose pro system (it is the absolute best in my opinion), but I have simplified my program over the years out of necessity. If you are a gardener in California I highly recommend her book Southern California Organic Gardening Month by Month. Now that we have a puppy, this is our new program. In January we prune the roses. Pat’s book is great for advice on how to do that. In late March or early April we fertilize the roses with Dr Earth’s Natural Rose fertilizer, and surround each bush with alfalfa pellets. You can read about the benefits of alfalfa pellets from the American Rose Society here. We alternate throughout the growing season each month the rose fertilizer with fish emulsion fertilizer. Scout likes to eat the Dr. Earth’s so we have adopted this option.
The Roses I am Growing and Loving
As I mentioned we kept the pretty iceberg hedge that outline the pool. I had standard iceberg roses in my Chualar garden. They are hardy and easy to grow and produce an abundance of blooms all summer long. They are easy to maintain and deadhead. We use the hedge clippers (this is the only rose I would recommend this for)) to deadhead them and they rebloom quickly.
Here are the iceberg in pots around our fountain that we brought from our Fixer Upper.
Another modern rose that I had in my Chualar garden and the former owners planted here is Cecile Brunner. This climber is easy care and pest free. It is a once bloomer (but does produce a few blooms periodically through the season.
Here is Cecil in my Chualar garden. As you can see he is hearty.
The former owners planted another of my favorite roses Awakening or New Dawn (I am not sure which) Awakening is the sport of New Dawn. It is a modern rose with old rose characteristics. This time of year it produces a mass of blooms above the garage. It blooms sporadically throughout the summer as well. We had to properly secure the roses last year. This picture is from last year they are not yet in full bloom.
My favorite rose ( in my former garden and here) is Teasing Georgia. It can get large but it has the most beautiful blooms and is very easy to care for. You can train it as a climber or to a pillar or just keep it in bounds by heavier pruning. You can see it in my former garden in the post My favorite garden roses the yellows here.
Scout checking out the roses.
Another favorite in my former garden and here is Golden Celebration. So far it is not quite as hardy here as in my former garden, but it is only two years old. We also brought struggling plants from Salinas that I hope will thrive this year.
Molyneux is another great yellow rose that I had in my former garden as well.
I tend to be drawn to the coral, peach and yellow roses primarily because they complement the colors in the stone and stucco of the house. They also are pretty cut inside. Lady of Shallot is a new rose for me. So far it seems to be very hearty in this garden.
Carding Mill, also new to me, is very similar in color to Lady of Shallot but doesn’t grow as large. It could be planted at the front of a rose border.
Boscobel (not a color I would normally choose) is an absolutely magnificent rose. I planted it in Salinas because it had such good reviews (it also struggled there). So far it is thriving here and has the most incredible blooms if you like the color.
Crown Princess Margarita (was a little slow in my former garden) was gifted to me by my dear friend Sharon (who has now passed). I had to leave the plant she gave to me, but planted two here on the beautiful copper arbor bullt by my brother in law in her honor. I didn’t want something too robust here because the arbor is so striking on its own. So far she seems to be happy here.
Lastly, we planted polka, a modern rose with old rose characteristics in the pots anchoring the posts on our back patio. They are doing really well and are getting close to making the cross to the support beams. You can see my plan for what we hope will happen to these in the next couple of years in my post How to Achieve a Collected Look on your Patio here.
If you are thinking of planting either old roses or David Austin roses in your garden the best time to plant is during bare root season from David Austin. Heirloom Roses (another good source) sells on Amazon here. I have ordered many roses from them over the years. Grace Rose Farm has a great book Garden Roses the Complet Guide to Growing and Arranging here. If you haven’t gotten mom a gift and she is a rose lover, I am sure she would appreciate it. You can also order roses from them and download their free guide to growing roses here.
Thank you so much for reading How to Grow Beautiful David Austin Roses Without Breaking your Back. I would love to hear what roses your are growing and are having good success with.
My neighbor just gave me two roses bushes. They’re Jump For Joy. They were her father’s favorite roses. Well, I have no idea how to care for them. I’m told I need to water 3 times a week. but now I need to do research on how to care for roses. Where did I start? Here. I know you have beautiful gardens where ever you live. Wish me luck. From someone who knows nothing about roses.
Hi Sandra
I have never tried Jump for Joy. Roses (especially the modern varieties) take a lot of water and fertilizer!
Oh your roses are so gorgeous Cindy! Makes me want to plant more even though we have a ton in our tiny yard! My favorites are some classics that we got from my husband’s childhood home and are super special: Papa Meilland, Gertrude Jekyll, Chrysler Imperial, and a white one that is my favorite rose of all time that nobody knows the name of. Also have several David Austins that are so beautiful and fragrant. Thanks for this greast post – I’m always inspired by your beautiful garden!
Hi Barbara
Gertrude Jekyll is wonderful isn’t she? But boy she is thorny! I had a beautiful one near my gate at my former home. She thrived for many years and then dies one year. I never knew exactly why. You are so fortunate to have roses from your husbands childhood garden.
Cindy, like you I also enjoy yellow and corals in my roses. The magnificent yellow rose bush outside a window (gives great view of blooms) needed a good prune, and it’s now covered with leafy shoots. I may see some roses before we sell the place 🤞.I also find that cut roses don’t seem to last long in a vase…the first day the scent is wonderful, and then they droop pretty quickly. I cut the stems to ensure water is taken in, but I think it’s just the nature of the rose. Thanks for sharing your obvious passion for roses and your tips for blooms.
You are right Cath. I try to cut my roses when they are not fully opened so I can enjoy them longer.
I have a Cecile Brunner on my garage. It is growing in a large pot! My mom told me it is a rambler and they are really bigger than a climber. Who knew? I have to cut mine back every year, or it will pull its’ trellis off the side of the house.
That’s the only rose I can have – it’s 10 feet high and the deer can’t eat it!
Well I do have a small fairy rose inside the deer fortress. It struggles.
Your view is just spectacular. *Sigh*
Hi Gray
I had Cecile Brunner at my former home and I have three here. She can be a monster!
Hello Cindy,
I so enjoyed reading this post on David Austin roses as my husband and daughter just planted a new bed of 15 roses this past weekend. Three plants each of five varieties were added: Lady of Shalott, Olivia Rose Austin, Eustacia Vye, Vanessa Bell and Lichfield Angel. I am anxious to see how they all do in our zone 5 area. Thank you for sharing your beautiful rose garden with us, so inspiring to me.
Hi Donna
You will love Lady of Shallot. I had Olivia Rose in my former garden. I have not tried Vanessa Bell or Lichfield Angel. I can’t wait to hear how they do!
All your roses are pretty but my favorite is Iceberg rose. In my NC region my Thrift roses are loaded with blooms and will be until I trim back end of June then they will rebloom with loads of roses until late November. I would like to send you a picture. I have always loved working in my garden. I love seeing your garden.
Hi Nancy
Iceberg is such a winner, easy care and constantly blooming. We cut ours with hedge clippers. A rosarian taught me that some years back. Please send me a picture! You can email it to me cynthiahattersley@gmail.com
Dear Cindy,
Such beauty all around your incredible property. Having grown old roses for years at our Camano Island home, I felt like I could smell yours through my screen. With no sun on our retirement terrace, I’m happy to enjoy yours vicariously.
Mother’s Day hugs from Mercer Island,
Diney
I have all your yellow roses!Charlotte is a favorite as well.
This year my rose bushes look terrible!
Just went down in the back today to check on blooms!Very few!
Bolero is my favorite white rose!
I bought the book for The Italian for FATHERS DAY!He is retiring end of the year so now he has something to do at home!
Thanks!!
Contessa
Absolutely beautiful! I couldn’t begin to pick a favorite … they all are! The arbor is perfect in the landscape. I would love to arrange these as well.
My iceberg roses are probably at their peak right now. I know they may seem kind of ordinary but I love having them all of the same color. Do you know of any tree roses, maybe using a trellis, that might do well in my rectangular pottery planters? I’m giving up on trying to grow miniature citrus trees there and am trying to think of a good replacement plant that will have some height on either side of my fountain. You are so knowledgeable about gardening along with so many other topics! You’re my inspiration for so many subjects.
I love reading all your posts. I’ve learned so much and I really admire your style. I too love old style roses. Bliss Perfuma is a personal favorite. You might check out The Antique Rose Emporium in Brenham, Texas. It’s a great source.
Hi Charlotte
Thank you so much.I have purchased from the Antique Rose Emporium but not recently. I will check them out again!
Hi Cindy: Kudos to you! I lived in Paso Robles for 23 years and found it very difficult to grow roses. The Chualar growing region is much more forgiving. Your garden it beautiful! Obviously, you are a passionate gardener. Kay
Hi Kayln
I am curious if you tried any of the David Austins or the older varieties. The former owners had several modern hybrid teas that did not do well. The icebergs, david austins, sally holmes, awakening, cecil brunner are all thriving
Roses are lovely all around your home. Great variety. Scout seems to enjoy hanging near them. Roses were in my last house in a lovely garden, but of all the perennial plants and flowers, the roses were the most finicky. The knockout rose bushes on the other hand were easy and long bloomers. Thanks for sharing tips and inspiration.
Hi Carol
Roses can certainly be finicky, especially the modern hybrid teas.
You have so many beauties!! Must be heavenly to spend time in your garden. Lady of Shallot is a personal fave of mine. And love the scent!
Hi Gayle
Lady of Shallot is wonderful!!