STAKING CLIMBING ROSE WITH A SHEPHERD'S CROOK
I know that television gardener's, like Monty Don, keep telling us how and when to tie back our climbing and rambling roses but there is something about controlling plants' natural habits that sometimes, not always, spoils their effect. I know control of such thorny plants is a sensible thing to do but this year I have chosen to allow my climbing rose, Wildeve, to lean away from my fence in places, to overhang the perennial border, and give my border a less regimented, natural effect. To support Wildeve, I have used a black metal Shepherd's Crook. I think it blends into the background quite well and in time the metal will rust and still blend, I hope.
I grow Wildeve alongside New Dawn rose which is loaded with buds but only a few flowers are open right now. I needed to tie the Wildeve branch to the Shepherd's Crook because gusts of wind kept blowing it off the hook.
I actually bought the Shepherd's Crooks, a bunch of them, to support my James Grieve apple tree when the apples start to get a bit heavy and undermining the integrity of the branches. The metal supports have to look better, blend better, than last year's ugly canes and ties used to support the dwarf apple tree.
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| Wildeve supported with unobtrusive Shepherd's Crook |
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| Wildeve supported with Shepherd's Crook |
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| Wildeve, a David Austin rose |
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| Wildeve, heavy with rain |