Hedge Roses

Last year marked the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the floribunda rose 'Simplicity,' the plant that most people think of as the first hedge rose. Actually, the variety 'Red Glory' was sold as a hedge rose many years earlier, but it's the pink flowering 'Simplicity' that struck gold in 1979 and is still a best-selling rose. Its popularity can be seen across the United States in thousands of soldier rows of pink roses planted jowl to jowl, 25 and 50 at a time.

But what is a hedge rose, and where does it stand in the realm of today's modern landscape roses? Are rose hedges just monochromatic stretches of boring geometry, or do we need to shine them in a new, more versatile light?

A Hedge Rose by Any Other Name

In truth, there are thousands of roses that could be called hedge roses. Although the best ones share a free-blooming nature, upright habit and good disease resistance, hedge roses are really characterized more by how they are used than for any unique quality. A hedge is any row of closely spaced plants, usually pruned to maintain a tight habit. But more important, in a landscape sense, hedges provide visual or physical barriers, organize space and provide an attractive backdrop. Many roses fit that bill beautifully.

However, roses are not the perfect hedge plant. They can't be trained as straight-sided formal hedges, and as deciduous plants, they have winter down time. So if you are thinking of the dark green formality of English gardens, you have the wrong plant. Go with privets or boxwood instead. But if you want the functionality and abundant color, roses are definitely worth a look.

How to Use Roses as Hedges

It doesn't take much imagination to buy 50 roses and plant them in straight lines along the boundaries of your yard. Good landscaping, particularly with roses, needs to be much more than that. Roses are about color: vibrant color, long-lasting color and, if you're not careful, overpowering color.

Whenever you plant roses en masse, choose your colors carefully and think hard about how they will combine with other plants in your yard. Standing alone, a row of pink roses can be boring and monotonous, but planted behind a perennial border they become the perfect backdrop for other flowering plants. A solitary hedge of white roses across the back of a yard can be a glaring intrusion, but the same hedge caught as just glimpses through other plants in the landscape adds depth and a sense of mystery of what lies beyond.

You can often create something truly remarkable by using another plant in front or behind a hedge of roses. A double hedge with roses in front, and a taller evergreen like Texas privet behind, sets off any color rose. Planting lavender, ornamental grass or other textural plant in front of a hedge of roses serves to cover up the roses' often unsightly base and provides beautiful contrast.

When using roses as hedges, less is sometimes more. A short hedge of five to seven plants around a small patio, sitting area or fountain turns the area into a colorful focal point. But if the situation calls for it, don't be afraid to be bold. A long hedge of roses surrounding a vegetable garden will let everyone know that it is a special place.

Rose hedges can also be functional, hiding fences or screening unsightly views like compost piles. And with their thorns, rose hedges can be formidable barriers.

Hedge Varieties

As mentioned, many rose varieties may be used as hedges. We'll concentrate on taller, upright varieties that reach between 4 to 6 feet high, although smaller roses, including many miniatures, could be used as low hedges, borders or edgings. Here are some favorites:

Simplicity Hedge Roses. The success of pink 'Simplicity' has led to a series of similar varieties in shades of white, yellow, red, purple and, new this year, a fragrant lavender.

Floribundas. Upright floribundas make exceptional hedges. Favorites include 'Iceberg' (white), 'Betty Prior' (pink), 'Brilliant Pink Iceberg' (pink and cream blend), 'Easy Going' (golden yellow), 'Livin' Easy' (apricot orange blend), 'Sexy Rexy' (pink) and 'Sevilliana' (red).

Shrubs. 'Raven' (red), 'What a Peach' (peach), 'Pillow Fight' (white), 'Kaleidoscope' (tan-mauve blend), 'Rabble Rouser' (yellow) and 'Carefree Wonder' (pink and white).

Hedge Rose Planting and Care

Plant in well-drained soil and where the roses will get at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. Depending on the vigor of the variety, space plants 2 to 4 feet apart, further if you want a softer texture. For easy maintenance, plant through landscape fabric (to prevent weeds), install drip irrigation on top and cover everything with an organic mulch. Water deeply at least weekly (more in hot summer areas) and fertilize with a high-nitrogen fertilizer like Bayer Advanced™ Triple Action Rose Food Granules every 3 months. For an even more convenient way to fertilize while you control insects and disease, including powdery mildew, use Bayer Advanced™ All-In-One Rose & Flower Care Concentrate. One application applied to the roots feeds and protects for up to 6 weeks. For more information on growing roses and Bayer Advanced rose care products, visit the rose care page.

During the growing season, lightly shear plants after bloom cycles to remove spent flowers and to keep plants in bounds (especially the shrubs). In winter, you can shear back by as much as half or one-third, or even less if you want to keep the hedge taller. Every 3 or 4 years, clean up plants by taking out old, woody, less vigorous canes and any dead wood.

Silver Foliage Shines on Other Plants

Plants with silver or gray foliage are superstars in the color garden. Like any superstar, they always shine on their own, but their true value comes by making other plants look better. Silver is one of the most complementary tones. It highlights soft colors like blue, pink and white, making them stand out strong where they might otherwise fade into the background. Silver also softens strong colors like red and orange, providing a smooth transition between normally combatant shades.

As you plant summer flowers this month, blend in some silver or gray plants. You'll be surprised how well superstar will play in your garden.

Among our favorite silver-foliaged plants are yarrow, artemesia 'Powis Castle,' dusty Miller, snow in summer (Cerastium tomentosum), Crete dittany (Oreganum dictamus), germander sage (Salvia chamaedryoides), lavender cotton (Santolina), lamb's ear, bush germander (Teucrium fruticans) and silver thyme.

Check plant labels or your favorite garden book for appropriate growing conditions and eventual size to see how each plant will fit in your planting site.

Killing the Toughest Weeds

What can you do about the very toughest weeds — the woody, aggressive plants like kudzu, scotch broom and wild blackberry, or even worse, dermatological nightmares like poison oak, poison ivy and poison sumac?

Bayer Advanced™ has the answer with Bayer Advanced™ Brush Killer Plus Ready-To-Use. The special penetrating formula kills the toughest brushy weeds and vines, roots and all, and comes in an economical concentrate as well as a pre-mixed ready-to-use version. The concentrate can also be used to kill tree stumps.

To achieve the best results with Bayer Advanced™ Brush Killer Plus Ready-To-Use, apply when weeds are fully leafed-out and actively growing. The formula will damage any plants it contacts, so follow the label instructions exactly. Contact with poison oak or poison ivy any time of the year can cause an allergic reaction. Handle dead plants with rubber gloves. Dispose of dead plants and gloves in tightly sealed garbage bags. Do not burn the debris. Simply breathing the smoke can cause a severe reaction. To kill stumps, completely cover the freshly cut stumps with undiluted product, using a paintbrush.