David Austin Roses - scentless ??

[NightHawk]

Our dog groomer called at our house today and we got talking about gardening, and David Austin roses in particular.

We had purchased a couple of varieties recently from a local nursery, and they said that all David Austin roses are very fragrant.  This was a priority for us as they were to go on our new patio area, which we are filling with strongly scented plants.

Anyway, our groomer said that her David Austin roses don't have any scent    We were surprised at this, especially as what we had been told at the nursery, and we asked her about her planting conditions.  She lives in Hampshire not far away from us, and she has them planted in the garden, but they are surrounded by privet hedges.
We were wondering if the privets have something to do with stealing nutrients from the soil (which we believe they are noted for anyway) and in some way are affecting the scent the roses would normally produce.

We couldn't think of any other explanation for it.  Does anyone have any thoughts on this phenomenon?

Laurie.
 

[JohnB]

Laurie,
You're right about the fact that David Austin roses are supposed to be fragrant. In fact on their web site, the second paragraph on their home page says:

"After fifty years of intensive breeding, David Austin's English Roses combine the forms and fragrances of old roses with the repeat-flowering of modern roses. They are very easy to grow, healthy and reliable."

So, if your dog groomer has a non-fragrant rose, perhaps it's not a David Austin rose really.  I can't imagine that stealing nutrients from the soil would affect fragrance, it might affect whether it blooms well or does not grow well.

Not sure what else to suggest...

-John

[NightHawk]

Thanks for that John.

I thought it was a bit of a long shot to suggest that the privet was 'stealing the fragrance' somehow, so your suggestion that her rose/s may not be David Austin varieties seems to be the only other logical explanation.

She appears convinced that they are David Austin as she came up the name at the start of the conversation, so she's either been sold roses that have been mis-labelled or she's got them confused with other varieties in her garden.

We suggested to her to dig them up and transplant them elsewhere, using soil improvements, manure, etc.  Also, the nursery she bought them from offers a 2-year money back guarantee, so as long as she has kept the receipt she has that option to fall back on.

We'll have to quiz her again next time she's due for another grooming session - about 8 weeks time.

Thanks again John for answering that strange question 

The David Austin roses we are growing are in pots, using tree/rose/shrub compost.  What would you suggest John as the best means of feeding/treating them to maintain healthy and flourishing growth?

Laurie.