| Spring is the season when the splendor of rose | | | | weakens the composition. It is preferable in my view, |
| bushes is at its height. Despite their drop in popularity | | | | to cover the ground instead with a neat mulch of |
| in recent years, mainly due to difficulties in care and | | | | wood chippings. |
| maintenance, the sight of a large group of roses in | | | | Thought should also be given to the flower-type of |
| full bloom, is unquestionably one of the highlights of | | | | the roses to be chosen. For this reason, familiarity |
| the gardening year. While success depends on | | | | with the various groups is desirable. Typical of hybrid |
| adopting correct horticultural practices, it actually | | | | tea roses for example, are large, spectacular flowers |
| starts or ends with a clear understanding of the | | | | that appear singularly on each flower bud. In small |
| design role to be played by the roses. | | | | intimate spaces, the "architecture" of the individual |
| As roses are almost always grown for their flowers | | | | flower assumes greater significance than in a large |
| and not for the shape or form of the bush, (with the | | | | border, so hybrid teas are often more suited to such |
| possible exception of climbing roses) the primary task | | | | locations. Floribunda roses on the other hand, produce |
| is to carefully choose a color scheme. Randomly | | | | a far greater quantity of flowers from each bud, |
| throwing colors together is as unlikely to achieve | | | | although the individual flowers are invariably smaller |
| satisfying results in the garden, as it would be in the | | | | and less interesting in their structure. If the effect |
| sitting room. Massing a single color, creates a strong, | | | | desired is a very powerful mass of color, in a |
| decisive design, and is always more effective than | | | | relatively large space, then choosing a variety from |
| mixing colors together in a small space. A large group | | | | the floribunda group, could be preferable to a hybrid |
| of Bordeaux rose flowers by a white wall for | | | | tea. Furthermore, many hybrid teas are highly |
| instance, can create a dramatic focal point in the | | | | fragrant, whereas floribundas are rarely so. |
| garden. White flowers on the other hand, are often | | | | Although roses are grown essentially for their blooms, |
| used by designers as a bridge or transition between | | | | other design functions can also be considered. If a |
| different color groups. | | | | climbing plant is desired to cover a fence or a wall, a |
| For roses to be most effective, they have to relate | | | | suitable rose could well be the answer. Miniature |
| well to the other elements in the garden. They are at | | | | roses can look excellent as a transition between a |
| their best where a quiet hedge serves as a | | | | lawn and a shrubbery, while some species roses (that |
| background, while they tend to look "lost" in the | | | | is wild roses) enhance a Mediterranean style garden |
| middle of a large lawn. Roses should be given their | | | | with their arching, sprawling form. Rambling roses of |
| pride of place. Planting herbaceous flowers between | | | | course can be used as large-scale ground covers. |
| the bushes, whether annual or perennial, usually | | | | |