Rose "Lavinia": description, cultivation and use in garden design

Lavinia rose appeared in Germany in the 90s of the last century as a result of crossing hybrid varieties. And already in 1999, this variety became known everywhere and even won an honorary award at a specialized thematic exhibition in the United States. "Lavinia" is a climbing rose, it is used to decorate hedges, walls of buildings, arches, with its help they create living barriers.

The climbing rose "Lavinia" has thin and long highly branching shoots, and the bush itself can grow up to three meters in height and up to one and a half meters in width. On the flowering shoots, clusters of inflorescences are located, in which from three to seven roses are collected. When the buds open, the flowers are in the shape of a bowl, the petals are gathered around the corolla and have a rich pink hue.

The leaves of the rose are alternate, five leaf blades are attached to one petiole, four are arranged in pairs, the fifth at the top. They are dark green in color and have slightly jagged edges. The encyclopedic description of the "Lavinia" variety indicates that the leaves of the bush are large and very dense. They are attached to the branches with the help of special leaf internodes.

The roots of this climbing rose are highly developed, they need a lot of space for successful growth. Usually they go deep into the soil at a distance of up to two meters. The roots of roses do not like stagnant moisture, therefore, when choosing a planting site, you need to ensure that the groundwater does not come closer than two meters to the surface of the earth.

Climbing roses often need certain props to relieve stress on their long stems covered with flower heads. Rose "Lavinia" is famous for the fact that it can successfully grow and develop without support. Its branches are very strong, thick and flexible, they are rather difficult to break, but they are malleable when creating curved structures.

The variety is also known for the fact that not only the bush itself, but even its delicate fragrant flowers are quite resistant to the effects of prolonged rains.

A climbing rose needs not only the right choice of a planting site and good care, but is also demanding of what companions surround it. There are expert opinions and gardeners' reviews about which neighbors are favorable for the rose and which are not.

• It is considered inappropriate to place roses in mixed flower arrangements. And the point here is not only in the beauty of the general appearance, but also in the fact that it is difficult to care for the rose bush - it is difficult to cut it off, the soil around the bush is covered with other plants. For this reason, aster, loosestrife, physostegia and the like, which grow rapidly, are unfavorable neighbors for a rose.

• The acidity of the soil also plays a significant role. Roses do not like soil acidification and will not take root where hydrangeas or rhododendrons feel good.
• In order for a rose to grow and bloom successfully, you do not need to plant it near large trees such as birch, maple, pine or spruce.These trees will take away moisture and nutrients from the rose, and it will not be able to cope with such giants in the competition for survival.
• Climbing roses can be successfully grown with low plants that do not fill the entire surface of the soil - these are sage, bellflower, forget-me-not, lavender, as well as cereals.

• Regarding clematis, you need to remember that you can plant them only after two or even three years of development of the rose, otherwise the plants will begin to quite actively compete with each other for a place in the sun.
• The most beautiful and functional combination in the formation of a hedge is considered to be the commonwealth of roses and thuja. This combination was used in the past centuries by the French royal landscape designers, forming the crowns of these conifers in the form of cones or balls. The most important condition for such a successful coexistence is the observance of the distance between plants from one to one and a half meters.

When choosing planting material there are several points to pay attention to.

• High-quality rose seedlings should have two or more shoots in the lignification stage. The best option is when there are four shoots and they are all directed in different directions.
• The stems should not have wrinkled areas of bark or dried branches, such a seedling may not take root.
• If there are spots on the surface, this is a signal that the plant is sick.
• At the grafting site, also pay attention to the condition of the bark, there should not be any detachments.
• On a healthy and fresh seedling, you will see buds in the swelling stage, if they are absent at all, then the plant is dry and dies. This often happens when the conditions of transportation or storage are violated.
• Always examine the root system, the roots should be dark brown, strong and elastic. A plant with soft, drooping roots is most often susceptible to root rot.

To plant a seedling, you will need to prepare a hole 50-60 centimeters in depth and width. Top dressing is placed at its bottom, consisting of compost, a special soil-peat mixture for roses and a small amount of sand.

Before planting, the shoots are shortened so that they reach no more than 20 centimeters, and the roots are cut to a length of about 30 centimeters. When planting, the roots must be straightened and sprinkled with soil, while the soil is compacted as best as possible in order to avoid the formation of dips and voids. Now the rose must be well shed with water, and if the soil has shrunk, add the required amount of earth. Experts advise to pour a mound of soil near the root collar, and after twenty days to level it. This will give the growth of additional layers of the root system, and the bush will take root better.

After planting, the rose needs to be watered no more than once a week (a bucket of water per bush). If the weather is hot and the air temperature exceeds 25 degrees, watering can be done once every five days. The main thing is to prevent stagnation of moisture at the roots so that they do not rot.

The appearance of the first young leaves serves as a signal for the introduction of nitrogen fertilizers. This must be done before the buds are formed, however, in the first year, such feeding is not necessary. From the second year, the rose is fertilized with diluted manure in combination with compost, or mineral complexes are introduced. Sometimes the latter are replaced with ash, but this is only if the rose grows in nutrient-rich soil. Before the beginning of the wintering period, top dressing is also not worth making; it is better to do this in the spring.

To prevent rot and fungal diseases, the rose is treated with a 3% solution of ferrous sulfate, which must be taken in an amount of three hundred grams per 10 liters of water. To prevent the bush from becoming infected with diseases or an invasion of insects, it must be kept clean, avoiding the growth of weeds around it. Often, for this purpose, the land around the rose bush is mulched or covered with agrofibre, which is capable of retaining moisture, providing oxygen to the roots, but preventing the development of weeds.

During the formation of the crown, it must be remembered that the Lavinia variety gives flowers only on the shoots of the second year of life, so it is important not to cut them off inadvertently. In addition, it is necessary to remove the shoots that the plant forms below the grafting point. As a rule, they are removed by hand and do it regularly.

In the autumn, when the time for low night temperatures comes, the bush must be untied from the supports and laid on the ground. To prevent the branches from rising, they are pressed down with wire or wooden slingshots. After that, the plant is covered with spruce branches or covering material. With the arrival of spring heat, the branches return to their places.

Professional specialists and amateur gardeners unanimously agree that the climbing rose variety "Lavinia" is one of the most beautiful and well-established among similar species. The rose has established itself well not only in the southern latitudes, but is also successfully grown in central Russia. Every year, the demand for seedlings of this plant only grows, indicating that Lavinia is becoming a favorite not only among connoisseurs of roses, but also newcomers who are just taking their first steps in this exciting hobby of growing beauty on their site.

For information on how to properly cover a rose for the winter, see the video below.