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jay jay · 03-03-2005, 05:13 PM

[quote=JimS.]"Mikael" wrote in message
...
I'm not much into gardening but would like to get some Rose bushes to
plant. What would be a good Rose bush that does not vine all over the
place. I live in Zone 6 - West Virginia. Also when is it the best time to
plant them. Our local Lowes has Roses for sell now, but Roses are French
to me. Ha! Thanks for any advice or help leading me in the right
direction.
Mikael

Mikael,
It's probably a bit too early to plant in West VA now if you're Zone 6. You
don't want to chance another freeze. I'm in Zone 8 and I just planted, but
I'm pushing my luck a little--we've had a freaky warm winter this year so
I'll be OK. But I suspect in West Virginia you might get another freeze
this season? Might want to wait a little more.

For a nice book for beginners, go find Ortho's "All About Roses". They'll
probably have it at Lowes. It'll help you get started. You'll want
another book as you learn more, but that one is a good beginning because
it's very informative, not overwhelming, and hit has los of good color pics
of roses you might like. Be careful about the ones you're seeing at Lowes.
Don't buy anything that'a a grade #1.5. You want a grade #1 rose. The
1.5's are cheap but they'll more likely die on you. I know Lowes sells
Jackson & Perkins roses in a box, which are OK; and also bare root roses in
bags filled with peat moss or sawdust. If you buy the bagged ones, look for
really fat canes and not too much wax caked onto the canes. That wax is
supposedly harmless, but my experience has always been that it frequently
causes the cane to rot and die underneath of it. So scrape off as much of
it as you can. The less it has on it to begin with, the better. And don't
forget to soak the rose roots in a bucket of water before you plant it, to
rehydrate those bare roots.

Good luck and have fun. They're not so hard to grow.

JimS.
Seattle, Zone8[/QUOTE

Hello Mikael

whatever you buy, make sure it has a beautiful scent. I have just bought Kazanlik: the rosebuds are used for pot pourri, and Buff Beauty to go along side. I would recommend you look out for some really good rose specialists, order a catalogue and go from there. The catalogue should be full of information. Can't recommend anyone particularly as I am in Europe but sure there must be lots available to you.

Judy