By Sandy Burke
I think the use of landscape roses makes the exterior of any house more graceful, fragrant and inviting. If you select the right varieties to accent and compliment the home's style and your vision, landscape roses will contribute to the success of your landscape and rose garden design.
Finding the perfect roses for your rose garden is not that hard because of the many varieties of roses. The problem lies in choosing the right rose bushes for your landscape needs and the design you are trying to archive.
Roses come in a number of different classes. Each class holds characteristics that make them a great choice for use as landscape ornamentals. As an example, suppose you'd like to have roses growing up and over an archway or trellis or archway or cascading from window boxes. Then the tall growing tea roses are a perfect choice. Tea roses are famous for their wild growing blooms. Use the tea rose and every time you or your guests walk under the archway you'll enjoy a beautiful display of roses.
If a trellis isn't available and you're looking to accent a wall, then why not try a true climbing rose. The beauty of a true climbing rose allows you train the plant into many different looks and effects. I've always loved the way it can be trained to grow so many different ways.
I also love the Floribunda rose when I'm looking for a vibrant splash of background color. When I use the Floribunda rose varieties, I know my garden will be alive with color because of their large and breathtaking sprays of blooms.
I also use the versatile rose as a ground cover or planted in front of other plants to give color and accent. I've also used them as stand alone specimens and trained them into a small tree or as hedges. I think the Rugosa roses are a good choice for this. The goal or impact of the rose is not the varieties or ways it can be grown but the colors they offer in making your garden come alive with a palette of colors.
What I and most gardeners want are healthy rose plants that deliver impact in many sizes, styles, textures, colors and shapes. When considering your design for your rose garden try to choose complimentary colors for your surrounding landscape.
Consider that a simple arrangement of pink roses can deliver the perfect compliment to a stone or marble entranceway or drive. White tea roses can offer a striking contrast against a dark red brick home. Since roses come in so many different colors it is relatively easy to find colors to compliment and enhance any decorating or landscape design you can imagine. Designing your rose garden should be exciting and challenging to say the least. So incorporate your own color favorites and mix styles and textures for an interesting appeal.
Although roses can do well in a variety of temperature zones and climates, make sure you choose the varieties suitable to the area in which you live. This translates into fewer maintenance issues, less pesticides and disease issues promoting overall a healthier rose garden.
So what are you waiting for? Why not get started planning your rose garden today?
Sandy Burke is a mother and grandmother who enjoys gardening and helping others learn about and enjoy gardening.
For more information and tips on choosing the right roses for your garden, please visit her website at http://www.rose-gardening-advisor.com/ and remember to sign up for her free weekly newsletter on rose gardening.
