In 2001, the British breeder D. Austin introduced another selection masterpiece - the Benjamin Britten park variety. In 2005, the rose was awarded a certificate at a competition in Australia (Certificate of Merit, Australian National Rose Trials, 2005). Now it is actively grown by many summer residents and gardeners.
Grade history
The description says that the variety received the name of a world celebrity, the British musician E. B. Britten. The composer, conductor and pianist, according to the encyclopedia, founded the festival in Oldboro and was the first to receive the E. Siemens Prize, which in the musical environment is similar to the Nobel Prize.
Fully Opened Bud
A characteristic feature of the variety is its bright, as if scarlet color, illuminated from the inside. For a group of English roses it is not typical. D. Austin himself described it as red-brick, but the palette of the flower is much richer. With age, it loses orange hues, it is replaced by a noble raspberry.
The rose grows in a wide branched bush, prone to thickening. Spiky shoots, flexible. Foliage light green semi-gloss. The opened thick-bloomed flower (10-12 cm in diameter) has the shape of a deep bowl with bright yellow stamens in the middle. In the heat, the flower may become smaller.
The height of the bush largely depends on the place of growth. The declared sizes of 90-100 cm in Russia, the Benjamin rose significantly outgrows.
For your information! According to gardeners, in the south the variety reaches a height of 2-2.5 m.
Abundant flowering at the ends of shoots at the beginning of summer after is replaced by a few brushes. The variety is well suited for cutting. The plant is powerful, unpretentious, beautifully combined with light varieties of English roses. The smell conveys notes of pear, caramel and wine.
Flowering benjamin britten
English rose in landscape design
Austin roses combine the nostalgic peony shape of old roses, a rich rich aroma with unpretentiousness and winter hardiness.
For your information! The breeder has made significant progress in the cultivation of varieties with unusual old roses colors (yellow, orange, peach-pink).
During the season, roses bloom repeatedly in a warm climate three times. Another feature that characterizes the vast majority of roses in this group is beautifully drooping shoots. The flowering of an adult bush of an English rose (from three years) is fascinating. The bush is drenched with flowers from top to bottom and attracts with aroma.
Since Austin roses are mostly classified as scrubs (park), they are used to create high arrays, they look great next to conifers, herbaceous perennials. Combined in the rose garden may be the background for hybrid tea and floribunda roses. In a monoplant, the manufacturer recommends planting at least four bushes in a checkerboard pattern.
Features of growing roses of David Austin
Plants can grow in both bushy and climbing form (klimber). It all depends on the particular variety and climate. "Englishwoman" reveal their potential upon reaching three years from the moment of landing.
Rules for planting roses
Landing
Thin, delicate petals do not tolerate high humidity and sunflowers very well. For them, it is recommended to choose a place taking into account the light shading in the heat. A dull shadow leads to elongation of shoots and sparse flowering.
Breeders recommend planting different varieties in groups, assuring that together they are harmoniously combined in color. To create a spectacular color accent, D. Austin proposes to plant three bushes, observing the distance to half a meter between them. In practice, this method has not justified itself. After 3-4 years, the size of the plants is such that it is not possible to take care of them, and the bushes themselves oppress each other.
For your information! Experienced gardeners recommend planting at a distance of not less than a meter, at first filling the space between roses with companion plants. It is important to choose the right place for planting, since large bushes over five years old are not recommended to be replanted.
Further care
Caring for English roses is not complicated, standard procedures should be supplemented by cutting off or cutting off faded buds. Not all roses are self-cleaning, dropping wilted flowers, in addition, pruning stimulates the laying of new flower buds.
Correct flower removal
Watering
Irrigation regularity is correlated with the time of year. In the spring, it is necessary to moisten the roots when the plant forms buds; in the heat, drying out the soil can affect the growth and development of the bush. It is recommended to mulch the basal area in order to maintain soil moisture comfortable for the plant longer. After rains, the flowers due to the abundance of petals can rot from excess moisture, they need to be shaken so as not to lose flowering.
To water only benefit, you must adhere to the rules:
- watering under the root, as moistening the leaves provokes the development of fungal diseases;
- pour a bucket of water under an adult plant once a week in the absence of rain;
- watering is stopped by the end of summer.
Important! Frequent watering in small portions stimulates the growth of surface roots, they are easily injured when loosening.
Top dressing
Adult roses require timely fertilizer. The "English women" are real toilers - a 4-5-year-old bush produces about 200 flower buds or more in one flowering wave. In order for the plant to have enough strength, it is necessary to take care of nutrition throughout the season:
- with the awakening of the kidneys, nitrogen fertilizers must be introduced into the soil to stimulate the growth of roots and shoots;
- during budding, the plant needs potassium and phosphorus, as a rule, they use specialized complex fertilizers containing the necessary micro and macro elements.
Important! They stop adding nitrogen in the second half of summer so that the plant does not waste energy on growing shoots, but can winter without loss.
Pruning
Depending on the season, two types of pruning are performed:
- sanitary (in the spring);
- formative (during the season).
With the advent of spring, the bush must be prepared for flowering. Damaged, dried shoots are shortened to living wood (light section with a green border). Thin, weak and inwardly growing branches also cut out.
If the rose wintered without loss, you can immediately proceed to formative pruning.
By appointment, pruning is divided into:
- strong (2/3). Used to stimulate the growth of lateral and basal shoots;
- moderate (1/2). In the center, higher (1-3) shoots are left, the side ones are shortened stepwise. Then flowering occurs at different levels, creating the effect of pouring;
- weak (1/3). In this case, the shoots refresh one third in young roses or bushes with a good shape.
Note! The shoot is cut off at an angle tending upward above the kidney, which is directed from the center of the bush. The distance from it to the cut must be maintained 1.5-2 cm.
Cropping pattern
Wintering
D. Austin's roses are frost-resistant, tolerate winters well in a frame or frameless shelter. Autumn pruning is not desirable, before hiding at the bushes, leaves are torn off, since fungal spores and pests overwinter on them and bend. Varieties with hard shoots are bent in several stages.
Diseases and Pests
Common diseases of English roses:
- powdery mildew;
- downy mildew;
- black spotting;
- rust;
- gray rot;
- bacterial cancer.
Pathogens are bacteria and fungal spores that live in the soil and can enter the rose garden with infected seedlings. Plants are treated with soil treatments and leaf by systemic antifungal drugs. As a prophylaxis, they are treated with Bordeaux liquid before the start of the growing season.
Pests:
- aphid;
- thrips;
- rosette leaflet;
- rose sawfly;
- spider mite.
In this case, insecticides and acaricides will help, a number of treatments will be required to repel insects.
On a note! If single individuals are noticed, you can try folk methods of struggle.
Rosa Benjamin Britten is a wonderful representative of the Austin gallery of romantic roses. Her presence will add charm to any garden, and cheerful fragrant flowers will attract the eye.
