Content
Rose Ashley is a variety that, according to many gardeners, is considered a real masterpiece among hybrid tea species. And, despite the fact that it appeared relatively recently, it has already managed to become widespread among amateur flower growers and landscape designers. Its popularity is explained not only by the unpretentiousness and hardiness of the variety, but also by the densely double flowers in the shape of ancient roses, which few people can leave indifferent. However, in order for the shrub to maintain its high decorative value every year, it needs to be provided with proper care.
Ashley rose suitable for cutting and landscaping
History of selection
The author of the variety is the German breeder Christian Evers. It was first introduced to the world and officially registered in 2014. It is unknown what types of shrubs were used to create it, but the result was able to exceed all expectations.
The originator of the Ashley rose is the German nursery Tantau, which for many years has been one of the main suppliers of high-quality rose planting material.Its varieties are characterized by increased resistance to common crop diseases and high decorative value, as well as the ability to adapt to different climatic conditions. And, judging by the reviews, Ashley's rose fully retains these qualities.
Description and characteristics of Ashley rose
This variety is characterized by slightly sloping bushes with strong, upright shoots. Their height reaches 80-100 cm, and the growth diameter is 45-50 cm. The growth rate of the branches is accelerated, so already in the second year after planting, the Ashley rose begins to fully bloom. The degree of cover of shoots with thorns is average.
The leaves of the shrub are large, consisting of five separate segments, which are attached to one petiole. The length of the plates reaches 12 cm. The leaves are leathery with a semi-glossy surface, dark green in color. They have slight serration along the edge. The leaves have a red tint when blooming, and subsequently acquire a primary color.
This species belongs to the category of densely terry. Therefore, its buds are wide, dense, and egg-shaped. When fully opened, the diameter of the flowers reaches 9-12 cm. Each of them consists of 40-60 petals. The main color of the flowers of the Ashley rose is pink pearlescent, which is combined with a crimson palette. The bright shade remains even when exposed to direct sunlight.
Ashley rose flowers are apical, mostly single, but inflorescences of 3-5 buds can also appear. The smell is unobtrusive, pleasant, and can only be felt up close.
The Ashley variety is re-blooming, with both the first and subsequent waves being abundant.First, buds appear on the bush in late spring, early summer. The duration of the first flowering period is 20-25 days, which occurs due to the slow opening of dense flowers. The bush forms buds for the second time this season in early August. This time the duration of the period continues until the onset of frost.
The lifespan of each flower at Ashley is 10-14 days
The variety is characterized by average frost resistance, which corresponds to the sixth climate zone. This means that the shrub can withstand temperatures as low as -23 °C.
This rose also suffers from prolonged rains. In this case, its flowers lose their decorative effect, so they need to be cut off in a timely manner.
Advantages and disadvantages
Hybrid tea rose Ashley (Ashley) has many advantages, so it not only adequately competes with other types of crops, but also surpasses them in many respects in some qualities. However, the variety also has certain disadvantages that need to be taken into account.
The variety is not recommended for the northern regions of the country
Main advantages:
- long flowering;
- highly decorative;
- uniform color of petals;
- shade resistance to direct sunlight;
- strong shoots;
- dense bud;
- large size flowers;
- versatility of application;
- low susceptibility to diseases.
Flaws:
- average frost resistance;
- needs protection from pests;
- Decrease in decorative effect after rain.
Growing and care
For planting, it is recommended to choose two-year-old seedlings, as they easily adapt to new conditions. They can be planted in a permanent place in the spring before the growing season begins and in the fall after it ends.The optimal period is mid-April and the end of September, but in the second case there should be at least three weeks left before the onset of frost.
For the Ashley rose, a sunny, open place, protected from cold gusts of wind, is suitable. The variety prefers loamy, nutritious soil with good aeration. It is important that the soil has an acidity in the range of 5.6-7.3 pH.
You need to prepare the planting hole at least two weeks in advance so that the soil has time to settle. It should be 50 cm deep and wide. It should be filled with a nutrient mixture consisting of turf, peat, humus and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1:1. You also need to additionally add 40 g of superphosphate and 25 g of potassium sulphide to the hole, and then thoroughly mix the fertilizers with the soil.
Ashley roses should be planted according to the standard scheme. Upon completion, the root collar of the bush should be flush with the soil level. After the procedure, the bush needs to be watered abundantly.
This variety is undemanding to care, but some rules when growing it must be followed. Rose Ashley does not respond well to prolonged drought. Therefore, it is recommended to water it, if necessary, at the root, soaking the soil to a depth of 10-15 cm. It is also important to periodically loosen the soil at the base of the rose, which will provide air access to the roots.
The variety needs regular feeding throughout the season. It is recommended to fertilize it for the first time at the beginning of the growing season to grow shoots and leaves. During this period, it is recommended to use chicken manure 1:15 or mullein 1:10. In the future, fertilizing should be done after each wave of flowering.For this you can use superphosphate 40-60 g and potassium sulfide 25-35 g, depending on the age of the rose.
The variety needs pruning annually in the spring. It should be carried out at the level of freezing of the shoots, but not less than 1/3 of their length. Perform the procedure in mid-April, cutting off the branches to healthy tissue.
It is recommended to cover Ashley Rose for the winter. To do this, it is necessary to lay a 15 cm thick layer of humus at its base. This will protect the roots from freezing. It is necessary to remove the layer of mulch in the spring, without waiting for sustained heat, since mulch can cause the shoots to become warm at the base.
With proper care, bushes retain high life potential for up to 30 years or more.
Features of reproduction
To obtain new Ashley rose seedlings, the cutting method is suitable. It can be used throughout the entire growing season of the bush. To do this, you need to cut the mature shoot into pieces of 10-15 cm with two internodes.
Planting cuttings can be done in open ground, but first add 5 kg of sand per 1 sq. m. to the soil. m. Before this they need to be prepared. To do this, you will need to remove the bottom pair of leaves and shorten the top ones by half. This will preserve sap flow in the tissues.
Before planting, make the lower cut obliquely and powder it with any root-forming agent. During the procedure, the cuttings need to be buried down to the first pair of leaves, keeping a distance of 5 cm between them.
After planting, it is necessary to make a mini-greenhouse to provide favorable conditions for rooting. It needs to be ventilated daily and the seedlings watered if necessary. Ashley rose cuttings take two months to root. They can be planted in a permanent place when they are strong enough.
Roses grown from cuttings bloom in the third year
Diseases and pests
The Ashley variety is resistant to black spot and powdery mildew. However, if the growing conditions are inappropriate, the bush’s immunity weakens. Therefore, when growing this rose, it is not recommended to ignore preventive treatments with Bordeaux mixture, which should be carried out in early spring and late autumn.
Among the pests, aphids and spider mites can cause damage to the Ashley variety. In this case, the shrub does not develop, its buds fall off without opening, and the flowers quickly lose their decorative value. To combat pests, it is recommended to treat the bush with Actellik or Fitoverm.
Application in landscape design
Rose Ashley looks good in mono-plantings consisting of 5-7 bushes. A green lawn or low-growing conifers are perfect as a background. The variety can also be an element of a group flower arrangement. It pairs well with white, yellow and cream varieties. But in order for roses to successfully complement each other, you need to select shrubs of the same height and growth vigor.
When planting shrubs next to each other, the distance between them should be 40 cm
Conclusion
Rose Ashley belongs to the category of unique varieties that will not go unnoticed in the garden, flowerbed, or park. However, there is an opinion that she needs special care, but this is not true. To grow it successfully, it is enough to adhere to the standard rules of agricultural technology, and then it will delight you with lush flowering every year.
Reviews from gardeners about Ashley rose
