Planting under roses.

I volunteer at the local museum which has a lot of roses in the garden. I don't know much about roses, and was talking to another volunteer yesterday about what plants to put into the beds and she mentioned that she thought she had heard that roses didn't like a lot of competition. Is that correct and if so, what can be planted under them? I have ordered some Pansies and am about to order some bulbs, will they be OK, and can I plant things like geraniums/daisy type things?

They will all be fine Jenny

It's true that roses don't like too much competition, but if you keep underplanting to low-growing annuals you'll be OK. Bear in mind that when you prune the roses in Winter that it's recommended that you spray them with lime sulphur to kill off any fungal spores. This may burn tender young leaves, so timing is essential, or you may choose not to spray. Hope this helps.

It's true that roses don't like too much competition, but if you keep underplanting to low-growing annuals you'll be OK. Bear in mind that when you prune the roses in Winter that it's recommended that you spray them with lime sulphur to kill off any fungal spores. This may burn tender young leaves, so timing is essential, or you may choose not to spray. Hope this helps.

My mother used to grow white alyssum under her roses and looked really pretty. The tiny dainty white flowers set off any colour rose flower nicely.

Jennywren I plant mini roses and herbs Rosemary and Sage in and around my rose bed, that also where I plant my Babianas, Anemones and Ranunculi in the spaces between the standards I leave enough room so I can get around to deadhead and prune.. If you want forever plants Society Garlic is great with its variegated long leaves and gorgeous little mauve flowers on 30 cms stems

Flowers of the Society Garlic.



Babianas growing at the base of the standard Just Joey



Next to Charles De Gaulle.



All over the place between the Standards







None this Spring as the huge amount of rain in April rotted the hundreds of corms I had planted
Only the Babianas and about six Ranunculi have come up this year..

OH NO MA stunning pics BTW

I was wondering if it it is two late to plant more I will miss them this year..

I buried Just Joey Yesterday
Put it in the wheelie bin and they took it away before I had my breakfast.

It was my first Standard Rose in this garden..

And have moved the Babianas to around the base of Julia's Rose..

Joey

Yes its so sad he was my favourite rose in the world

love the pics MA which reminds me to ask you if it was garlicchives you sent me or society garlic.

Garlic Chives Gwen and Thanks..

Thank you for your replies, very helpful.

Love those poppies, Mary-Anne. I may have to lok into getting some.

Not Poppies Jennywren they are Ranunculus they look like poppies though..

Ah..thank you, Mary - Anne. We have some planted already, but perhaps I should have ordered some more.

I know I will have to get some more otherwise it will be a very bare Spring around the roses..

For the cost of them I think in your climate if you get a few years out of them your doing well, I say GO for it

I want to but I am stuck at home one thing I wont do is stop a Guy while he is working...
I reckon all that silver Insulation under the floorboards will be finished by the weekend
Then the Insulation Installer can turn Chauffeur and drive me to the bigger shopping centre
Big W is having a sale on packets of them this week well $1 off its better than nothing..
I wonder how many are in the $5 packets I will get five for the price of four

I have some in the daylily bed that have to be five years or older, whites and blues..

let us know what you end up getting MA

Sure will, I just hope there are still some left by time we get there.

You'll be right I hope, any thing in mind MA

Not really just as long as they are pretty.
Oh Annemones and Runnuculus and if I can the Ixia's that rotted also.
And the Ruffled Freesia's too ..
The Chauffeur is taking me there early tomorrow

YaY

Apart from Peace Just Joey is one of our favourites