Under Planting of the Rose Beds

It has become apparent to our gardening volunteers that to reduce the amount of weeds, as well as increasing colour and interest, the rose beds needed something extra. Roses are the quintessential English flower with their wonderful scent. However, they only begin to flower in June and then need regular dead heading to continue to bloom for longer.  With such a large amount of bare earth around the roses, it is a constant battle to keep weeds at bay.

After visits to other public gardens, we decided that under planting was the way forward.  We had received a generous donation to buy, specifically, lavender plants.  Since the success of those, we have been given further donations in order to add more lavender.  We have also used Erigeron Karvinskianus or mexican fleabane under some roses, after seeing it used beautifully at David Austin Roses.  Another circular rose bed has been planted with Ophiopogon and Calendula. 

 

 

During the extremely hot temperatures, reaching 34.5 degrees here during the July heatwave 2022, the lavender and mexican fleabane responded extremely well. With future summer weather forecast to get hotter and drier, under planting also has the benefit of reducing water evaporation from the soil.

 

 

 

 

Here are a few pictures to show how we feel the Rose Garden has been enhanced by the under planting.  Our plans are to add more lavender as well as other low growing perennials, which are low maintenance plants and should reduce the need for so much weeding.