Thought on roses???

[elleng]

Will move into this place in a few weeks, won't be there full time but maybe 30-40% of the time, weeks on/weekends off or vice versa, maybe. Its in Southern Maryland. on a river as you can see.

http://smd.craigslist.org/apa/3907272842.html

Thinking of putting one or 2 rose bushes in. (Have 'adopted' neighbors' roses in central and northern Maryland, and becoming very fond of them!) Owner/landlord lives in 'big house' adjacent to cottage, and has a kitchen garden surrounded by wood and light electric wire to deter raccoons, so there are critters around.

Suggestions?

Thanks

[femmocrat]

1. Roses should do fine there.

My main problem with roses was they would freeze over the winter (PA), even with straw and burlap "coats". I have planted some Knockout roses and they are blooming like mad! I've seen a couple of Japanese beetles, but not too bad this year.

[elleng]

2. Beetles eating the heck out of neighbors roses in 'central' MD,

DC suburb, the one I loved so last year due to fragrance, and somethings been getting to other neighbor's rose bush in further northern suburb. Just clipped some, and threw about 5 worms off! EARLY in season, both bushes, 60 miles apart, appeared to have aphids. NOT a good year in 'my neighborhoods' this year.

Glad you think roses should do fine here/there at the cottage.

Thanks, femmocrat.

[Lugnut]

14. We have a few knock-out roses.

They're blooming like mad as well. The nice part about them is they keep blooming until the first frost and they need so little maintenance.

[Mr.Bill]

3. Deer will eat Rosbushes, so watch for that.

I had to fence my yard before I could have roses.

[elleng]

4. THANKS. Good to know,

cause have seen deer around!

There is a brick patio outside dining room, surrounded on 3 sides with 5 ft wood fence, and was thinking of looking for a patch of dirt there for planting.

[Mr.Bill]

5. You might want to extend that fence several more feet.

Most deer can and will jump a five footer.

[elleng]

6. S/he could walk right in,

its open on 1 side! Actually visible on craigslist pic, wood structure lower right extended by hedge.

[Mr.Bill]

7. I've had roses in a redwood tub on my deck

and the deer climbed a flight if steps and ate them. And when I say ate them, I mean thorns and all. The bush looked like you went at it with a weed whacker.

[elleng]

8. DARN!

I'd feed the deer OTHER food!!!

Actually, cottage is approached by a path along the river, but on OTHER side is a corn field, so I guess I'll see a bunch of critters there! Haven't lived at cottage yet, being painted (and I have lots of stuff to do,) so won't be able to tell 'stories' for a while!

[Mr.Bill]

9. Feeding deer is one of the worst things you can do for them

and in fact it is against the law where I live. No wild animals should be fed by man. It threatens the natural balance of their environment.

[elleng]

10. So let them eat corn!!!

[elleng]

11. Could I keep healthy growing roses

in container on screened-in porch, so never open to critters?

found this: http://www.rosemagazine.com/pages/containers.asp

[Mr.Bill]

12. As long as they get plenty of sun.

Also, the plants will never get as large growing in containers as they will in the ground. I do have one rosebush that lived in a half wine barrel for over 12 years at different addresses. It was healthy, but when I planted it in the ground a few years ago, it doubled in size.

[elleng]

13. Right. Will check, when I get there, the amount of sun it would get,

and then decide.
Thanks