Saturday, May 19, 2012

Unhappy with Cécile

A few people asked for an update to my post on winter pruning my climbing polyantha, Cécile Brunner. Well, its spring display has come and gone....



 .... and I enjoyed a profusion of lovely blush pink blooms.





Still, I can't say I am happy. I remember being surprised in winter by the flexibility of its old, thick woody canes. It should have occurred to me (but didn't) that these long canes, weighed down in spring by lots of blooms and new growth, would bend down even more, and end up exactly where I didn't want them: in the lawn.





 I thought I had pruned the rose too much, but as it turned out, I didn't prune it hard enough :(.





Another problem is Cécile's aggressive growth. The rose puts out many long canes even before most of its flower clusters are fully open, and by the time the bloom peaks, the flowers are half covered by new leafy branches. It happens every year, whether the rose is pruned or not.  My plant, put in by the previous owners of the house, is grafted on  Dr. Huey, which probably contributes somewhat to its rampant growth, although the rose is so vigorous that I am not sure it makes much of a difference.



I am beginning to think that containing Cécile's exuberance is a year-round project and I might have to reduce it in size a little more to make the maintenance easier. I wonder if I can do it and still preserve at least some of its graceful weeping shape. Perhaps, it will be this year's challenge:).


23 comments:

  1. I think the effort would definitely be worthwhile. I'm considering a climber in a new garden area, do you think it would be a good choice for me in Kansas or not?

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  2. I think Cecile looks great but I understand your frustration about the canes ending up where you don't want them. I don't do anything at all to my lamium. But it did look really scrawny in early spring. It wants moisture, warmth, fertilizer, and partial sun. Mine receives afternoon sun and filtered shade from the deutzia. I would cut it back fairly hard and fertilize it. It should bounce back much thicker.

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  3. About the spacing on my lamium - they've been there for years and I actually have to pull up chunks to keep them from taking over. They like moist, fertile soil and hate to dry out.

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  4. I love to see this rose. So many flowers she brings a lot of great color.
    gr. marijke

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  5. A glorious rose bush with such vigor; an enviable problem!
    Sandra

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  6. Beautiful!!! I love that delicate pink.

    FlowerLady

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  7. I put mine too close to the edge of the bed as well. Live and learn.

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  8. What a beautiful rose! Might be a good idea to prune it back a little to better control its vigorous growth.....

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  9. Thank you!

    Greggo, I can't really advise - Kansas is so far from California! Mine is very healthy but we have low blackspot pressure... It is once-blooming, which may be good or bad.

    PR, actually, mine is planted right at the fence, like a proper climber. I just don't think there is a bed wide enough for Cecile to sprawl as it wants...

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  10. Casa Mariposa, thank you for the lamium advice, yours are so gorgeous I feel inspired to try again.

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  11. What a glorious display! I am sure you will figure something out. Meanwhile, thanks for sharing your lovely pictures.

    CCG

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  12. Masha, Cecile is beautiful, a lots of buds, lovely tender colors! Nice photos.

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  13. Not happy with it? It looks gorgeous to me! Personally, I'd let it spill over into the lawn! :)

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  14. Again, a beautiful rose. I like going to visit. Beautiful Spring wishes. Monika

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  15. Oh my, I can't imagine being unhappy with something that beautiful! :-) Maybe you can fix her with a bit of pruning. Certainly seems worth the effort based on those gorgeous shots!

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  16. I don't usually like pink flowers but I'm captivated by these "blush pink" blooms.

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  17. Bonjour macha, encore des photos magnifiques ! Le rosier en lui-même est très beau et tès partculier : comme les rosiers anciens, surprenant. Je le connais très peu mais je le reconnais d'après ce que le l'ai vu, il est ainsi comme vous le décrivez : beaucoup de branches très fines, beaucoup de feuillage ce qui ne lui enlève rien car la rose sort de ce feuillage comme ont peu le voir sur vos photos. Il vous para^t envahissant ! Laissez un tout petit peu : comme une belle femme car il a énormément de féminité ! Par ailleur, je comprends votre sensation d'envahissement je ressent le même dans mon petit jardin, je m'en suis rendue compte et me suis corrigée. Bravo macha à bientôt! Viviane

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  18. However she is very beautiful, don't trim to much!

    Regards Janny

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  19. I love Cecile Brunner! I have the bushy one though. I am very happy with it because it doesn't give me the worries that your climbing one gives you, it just expands and flowers. I bought White Cecile Brunner and the yellow form too (Perle d'Or) which are now in flower, rather small plants but covered in flowers.

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  20. Przepiękna odmiana i wspaniale ujęta na zdjęciach.

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  21. It sure looks gorgeous in your photos, but I know how you feel when a plant just doesn't live up to expectations. I actually have a set of three ratty Rose bushes that I don't like very well. I've been meaning to replace them with a variety I like better, but I never seem to get around to it. Plus, I can't seem to bring myself to ditch plants--I always have to find a place to transplant them, even if I don't like them. Good luck with your decision--I know it's tough.

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  22. Nie wycinaj za dużo pędów, bo ona ma piękne kwiaty. Mnie by one nie przeszkadzały na trawniku. Pozdrawiam serdecznie.
    Cut too much Do not shoot, because she has beautiful flowers. I would not disturb them on the lawn. Best regards.

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  23. Cecile certainly looks gorgeous even if she's being a bit difficult!

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I am so glad you have stopped by!