Iceberg Rose Bushes

23 Apr '07 11:44 am

I'm new on the forum and a novice at gardening. I just planted two white iceberg rose bushes, in north central Minnesota. It rained gently the day before I planted; it is raining copiously but gently today and is supposed to rain all week. When I planted them, I mulched with cocoa hull mulch. They are planted on the northwest side of my home, where they will get full sun each afternoon throughout the summer. They are about 15 feet away from the front porch, so the roof overhang will not shade them, although two mature maples to the west will give them partial shade in the late afternoon, and the house next door to the east will shade them in the morning hours. The first reason I chose this location is so that I will smell their fragrance when relaxing on the porch. The second reason is that they will look visually attractive centered in the front of the house on either side of the sidewalk (but far enough to either side so that I won't have to dodge thorns as they branch out.)

So, in anyone's opinion, have I made good choices for my plants, and what should I do or expect next? Any idea when I will see blossoms? Will this much rain in the forecast be harmful for them?

Thanks for your comments.

23 Apr '07 4:55 pm

Icebergs are really well behaved! I think they are a great choice, and it sounds like you've put them in a great place. Mine don't seem to have a fragrance, though. And with a lot of rain the flower petals can get a pinkish look - I find this rather attractive! Anyway, I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed. Good luck!

24 Apr '07 5:19 am

Icebergs tend to lag a little behind other roses, but then bloom well into autumn. Today I took this pic at a friend's house in the rain - she must have planted three or four hundred icebergs in this avenue... she is down the mountain in the sub-tropics.- and remember here it is now autumn. (Its a very blurry pic, bt it gives an idea!)

24 Apr '07 5:49 am

Icebergs are a great choice for easy-care roses .Virtually no thorns and mine have lots of flowers now going into Autumn ! I bought a climbing one last year to grow along sideways at the back of the rose bed ,on some rails that have not been built yet because I want to paint them first ..
Jack - the avenue of roses must be a spectacular sight !
I tried to do that on a small scale with Albertine ,and do like the effect of masses of them
Dixie

26 Apr '07 4:05 am

I just have one little piece of advice to pass along. A friend told me when I planted an Iceberg rose that I should be ruthless about cutting the rose blossoms to promote more bloom. He said I should cut them far back with long stems. I have noticed that if I am just deadheading and cut the blossoms with very little stem, they tend to throw very spindley new growth. I guess that's why they should be cut further back to really strong stems.

26 Apr '07 2:39 pm

I've got a couple of climbing Icebergs, horribly sited that do wonderfully every year. They grow on fence behind some fruit trees, along a fence where they get to spew over the other (Northern) side. Every year they put on a great show for the folks on the other side of the creek. I pruned a little a few years ago, but now ..well, out of sight, out of mind. I don't find they have any scent but I have a lousy nose. Whenever anyone says or writes "some", "faint" or "slight" scent I have to translate that as no scent.

Nice to meet you, GardenGirl.

28 Apr '07 3:24 pm

Thank you for all the encouraging responses. The labeling on the roses say "very fragrant" so I hope they are! Actually, despite forecasts, after one day of rain following the planting, it hasn't rained. How frequently should I water the roses in such a situation, and how heavily? Should I protect against bugs or diseases with any type of product?

Also, a co-worker told me she was given a "Memorial Day" rosebush to plant last summer; it yeilded over a hundred long stemmed red roses throughout the season, suitable for picking and displaying in vases. I might look for this type of rose and find a spot to plant it as well. Has anyone had experience with this kind?

3 May '07 2:57 am

Dear friend, you are So lucky having this Rose! I never heard of a scented Iceberg, though.. On the other hand, he is almost thornless, with lots of stems, almost non-stop blooming! I spray him once with a special product absorbed by his system, at the very beginning of his Spring growth.This product protects him against the Rose-diseases throughout the good season... If the weather is rainy , I have to repeat this spraying against the possible Black Spot disease..He is a repeat bloomer and very densely !! I never dare to cut his flowers for the vase ! I prefer them being on the plant...

You can see here some aspects of him, last Summer:

2 Jun '07 3:22 pm

I am very happy to say that my little new iceberg rose bushes now have tiny buds forming! I can hardly wait to see them blossom! Also, the purple iris bulbs that I got from my mom's garden two years ago are in full bloom this week! There are several glorious blossoms on every stalk; whereas last year, only three buds appeared among all the plants, and those shriveled before fully opening. My white peonies are pregnant with full buds ready to open any day. I love this gardening thing, and thank God for his miracles of creation that I get to enjoy!

2 Jun '07 3:56 pm

Your flowers will soon be taking your breath away! And white flowers, in particular, are so lovely and peaceful. Peonies and irises and roses - a trio of THE most wonderful of flowery things in the whole gardening world! Enjoy!

Iceberg Rose Bushes

Iceberg Rose Bushes

Don't be impatient, gardengirl!

Icebergs

Iceberg Roses

I really like that rose too

Thank you

Iceberg-More!

Beginning to bud