The creeping roses (small bush varieties) were in the past so numerous and appreciated that they were separated into a separate group from park roses. However, nothing interesting happened in their breeding for a long time. In the 19th century, the Wichury Rosa wichuraiana rose was planted as a ground cover rose, reaching a sprout span of over 6 m. Its more compact variety, 'Max Graf', was introduced in 1919, and the miniature Japanese 'Nozomi' in 1968. The disadvantage of these early roses was the unique flowering.The new generationof ground cover roseswas not developed until the late 1970s, and in the last two decades more than 70% of the varieties grown today have appeared.
Until recently, it was a common opinion that small bush roses are only suitable for flower beds and large-area flower beds. Fortunately, such prejudices are no longer relevant. This group of roses has many great benefits.We can find here short varieties with long, creeping shoots, as well as taller forms with arched twigs.We can admire romantic flowers with densely arranged petals, as well as much more modest, single, with a natural appearance. All small bush roses have one thing in common: when planted densely next to each other, they become carpet plants, and almost all varieties bloom until autumn, delighting with an impressive abundance of flowers.
If you want a tight plant cover that will dampen the weeds, let's plant a variety with a minimum height of 40 cm on the bed. There is always some free space between the shoots of smaller roses, allowing the light needed by wild intruders.Remember that planting roses in weeded soil can cost us a lot of effort to remove grasses and other plants from the tangle of thorny shoots. For your own good, clean the bed of any weeds before planting rose bushes.
The range of floral colors of small bush roses is richer each year. Before that, we had to be content with varieties with white and pink flowers. Now we can choose roses in warm shades of red, yellow, apricot and orange. The flowers of small bush roses delight not only with their wonderful colors.Some varieties smell very pleasant, and often even stunning, although completely unlike rose aromas.Our sense of smell enchants our sense of smell with white blooming 'Schneekönigin', dark pink 'Magic Meidiland' and 'Lavender' Dream 'about bluish-pink flowers.
Most varieties of small bush roses are exceptionally strong and he althy plants, distinguished by their lush flowering and not requiring the removal of faded flowers. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that in many countries shrubs still win new decorations, emphasizing their undoubted qualities.Growing small bush roses gives a lot of pleasure.
Beginner gardeners and gardeners rarely fail. The cutting of the shoots is kept to a minimum. It is enough for the plants to be x-rayed every three or four years in early spring, before they start growing. If we find that the rose carpet has turned up too much, without harming the shrubs, we can quite radically trim their shoots.
As a rule, you can give up the autumn mounds, which protect the roots from freezing.If we plant small bush roses deeply enough (the grafting site should be about 5 cm below the ground), it is enough to carefully cover the bushes with a tuna.Conifers' branches will protect bare rose shoots primarily from drying out by the rays of the winter sun. In the case of ungrafted small bush roses propagated from cuttings, the root of the shoots should be covered with a 5 cm thick layer of earth.
Assuming a rose bed, let's try to plant different varieties. Various colors of flowers and height of shoots give the surface of the bed a loose and light appearance.
Classification of small bush roses
Previously, small bush roses were sold as ground cover roses. As this term was used to describe varieties with different properties, there were often misunderstandings and ambiguities in their classification.That is why the name "small bush roses" was quickly and universally adopted as more general and less misleading.
Roughly, small bush roses can be divided into three groups, differing in habit. Varieties such as 'Purple Haze' spread their long stems flat. It is enough to plant only 1-2 plants per 1 m2 to ensure that the surface of the bed is completely covered. Cultivars with erect shoots, e.g. 'Cubana' or 'Schneeflocke', have a compact, tufted habit. To achieve the effect of a floral carpet, 3-6 plants should be planted on 1 m2.
The third group includes higher varieties with arched shoots, which also look good as single specimens, e.g. the 'Windrose' cultivar.Depending on the variety's growth strength, 2-4 plants from this group are needed to cover 1 m2 of the flowerbed.
