Graham Thomas rose is a unique variety that has a special history and interesting description. Its name alone clearly indicates that it belongs to the numerous types of English roses, the elegance and sophisticated beauty of which attract even the most sophisticated gardeners.

The main features of the Graham Thomas rose

Any rose bush native to England has unique qualities. The Graham Thomas variety was bred in 1983 by an English gardener named David Austin. He gave the name to roses in honor of his colleague and close friend, who was as passionate about roses as Austin himself. Feature flower - rich buds yellow color in the form of bowls and a pleasant aroma with hints of fruit. Yellow shades can vary and differ from each other, which directly depends on the climate in which the crop is grown.

At the mention of the phrase "Thomas rose", many fans may associate with a variety called Thomas Becket, but they are completely different, although sometimes people tend to confuse them with each other. The park rose Thomas Becket is distinguished primarily by the fact that it is bright red, and its bushes are much smaller than those of the Graham Thomas variety. Beginning gardeners do not hurt to know the differences between these two species, so as not to make a mistake when buying seedlings.

Rose Graham Thomas has large flowers, whose diameter can reach up to 10 centimeters, and the peduncle itself consists of at least 70 or more petals, which serve as protection for the center of the bud. Inflorescences are formed by six or eight buds, and if we are talking about shrubs that begin to branch strongly, their shoots lean towards the ground, while having dense green foliage.

The size of the bushes, of course, depends on the climate and conditions of care. Their height in a favorable growth environment reaches up to three and a half meters, and their width can be from a meter or more. Rose Graham Thomas blooms all summer, without interruption.

Growing conditions

Like a true Englishman, Graham Thomas roses choose the arithmetic mean for their optimal growth and flowering, ideally developing in pleasant partial shade and with sufficient sunlight. Better conditions for her, it is being in the sun from six to seven hours daily, and good ventilation of the landing site will help the bush become more compact, with multiple ovaries of magnificent buds.

Before planting, it is important to remember that all other plants and trees should be at least one meter from the rose bush so that there is no competition between different crops when consuming nutrients from the soil.

Preparing and planting seedlings

Graham Thomas - a rose that can be planted both in spring and in autumn time. All purchased seedlings are carefully prepared for planting. Before planting, they must be kept in a solution that stimulates growth and disinfection of the roots for a day. The pits intended for seedlings should first be made as wet as possible at the rate of one bucket of settled water for each bush. After moistening the soil, the planting itself is carried out. The roots are straightened as carefully as possible, placed in the hole and covered with soil.

Gently straighten the roots and place them in the hole, then cover them with soil. In this case, the kidney intended for future grafting of the bush should be deepened into the ground by seven centimeters. The soil around should be well tamped, and a day later the bushes should be hilled and watered again.

Variety care

Care for the Graham Thomas rose variety should be carried out regularly and constantly. A few simple rules to follow will help the gardener get a beautiful rose bush, the flowering of which will be plentiful throughout summer season.

Watering

Do not water the culture too abundantly. The main thing is that this is done regularly, and in order to know optimal time for "water procedures", you should carefully monitor the condition of the earth around the roses. If the outer soil layer looks dry, it's time to water the crop.

Fertilizer

After planting, the future rose bush enters the so-called vegetative phase, during which it is formed. Therefore, after all the seedlings take their place in the soil, it should immediately be fertilized with substances containing nitrogen. Nitrogen fertilizers can be purchased at any specialized store. In May or June, roses will need nutrition with calcium and phosphorus: it is thanks to these substances that luxurious and large buds will tie. In autumn, at the beginning of September, it is allowed to feed the shrub with potassium-containing fertilizer.

pruning

With pruning, everything is simple: the main thing is to focus on which form of the bush the gardener likes best and, of course, remove all diseased and sluggish branches and faded buds.

Protection against diseases and pests

Rosa Graham Thomas does not like excessive soil moisture and can quickly get sick if watering is excessively plentiful. Good drainage and a moderate amount of water will be the main preventive measure. After rain, be sure to lightly shake the branches to remove drops from them. It is important to always remember this procedure, especially if gardeners live in climatic conditions abounding in rainy weather.

Unfortunately, the Graham Thomas rose variety can suffer from such an unpleasant disease called gray mold. This is a type of fungal infection that forms in the root system. The first symptoms are usually signs of rotting shrubs. All parts affected by the fungus should be immediately removed, and then the soil should be disinfected using solutions such as Gamair, Fitosporin or Alirin.

If the care is timely, the watering is correct, and the climate is moderately rainy, the shrub will not get sick, although it will always be useful to know about the potential threat.

Reproduction features

park rose Graham Thomas reproduces in two ways: layering and cuttings. Reproduction by layering is recommended for beginner gardeners, because it is much easier and simpler to implement than cuttings.

The procedure is carried out in July or August. One of the strongest bushes is selected, its end is carefully cut off, and a match is inserted into the place of the cut. After this simple manipulation, the stalk should be fixed in the soil and watered a little. In order to plant the layers correctly, all weeds should be completely removed from the ground, fertilizer should be applied and the soil loosened well.

If you propagate a rose by cuttings, you will also need to choose strong branches, which should have at least two or three leaves. Before planting, the lower leaves are removed and only one, the top one, is left. After this, the cuttings are planted in the soil, which must first be loosened, freed from weeds and fertilized.

Shelter for the winter

Distinctive feature of this type of culture - its resistance to cold weather. Before wintering, Graham Thomas roses need to be cut short, to the very base, on which two or three buds are left. The secateurs with which this manipulation is performed must be pre-treated with a disinfectant solution. After the bush is sprinkled with earth, which is lightly compacted to ensure the preservation of heat in the root zone of the plant.

The culture is covered with leaves, spruce branches or sawdust. Under conditions of excessive low temperatures(20 degrees and above), the best protection for the rose can be provided by covering it with a layer of thick film on top. In this case, one should remember about the obligatory gap between the rose and the film, which should be at least fifteen centimeters. You will get an impromptu, but reliable greenhouse, inside which the plant will feel comfortable and protected. To prevent the film from being blown away by the wind, it can be additionally sprinkled with dry branches. This type of shelter will provide the shrub with a sufficient amount of sunlight and protect it well from spring weather.

Rose Graham Thomas - lovely variety, which will be a worthy decoration for any suburban area or country house. With proper care, he will always delight his owner with beautiful flowering and exquisite English sophistication, which will not leave any guest indifferent.

Bush rose Graham Thomas, short review, characteristics description:

Originator: David Austin, UK, 1983.
Shrub ("English roses") or climber, depending on the conditions of formation and cultivation.
Height from 100 to 300 cm.

A very popular English rose, with yellow flowers.

Graham Thomas variety is difficult to identify by color. In some it is a warm yellow in the area, in others it is a pale orange ... [Click on the photo to enlarge.]

Bloom.

The flowers themselves, in shape and number of petals, are common to classic Austin roses. Flowers about 10 cm in diameter, double.

Color - from pale yellow to dark yellow, depending on the composition of the soil. Practically does not burn out.

Aroma is medium to rich, with a scent of rose oil.

Flowering can be either single flowers or brushes of 5-7 flowers. Since the flowers bloom on different shoots not very amicably, the flowering is long, but not very plentiful. Repeat flowering continues until autumn.

The flowers are quite resistant to rain.

Bush.

The plant is highly variable and can be grown either as a typical English scrub, about 120 cm high, or as a small climbing rose, with shoots up to 250-300 cm. Here you should focus on your region. If you have a longer warm season- then you can make a climbing rose out of Thomas.

When pruning, keep in mind that this variety tends to bloom more on the tops of the shoots, so it makes sense to leave different lengths of branches during spring pruning so that some bloom lower and others higher. However, you probably have your own ideas on how a rose should look in your garden, and here we are just sharing our observations and experiences 😉 . For example, if you decide to plant this rose in the background of the rose garden, where it may be the very place, then you need to cut it weakly - so that it blooms as it is naturally laid down - along the tops.

Namely, let's get acquainted with the unique Graham Thomas variety.

Selection history

Seedlings must be prepared in advance for planting, having previously kept them for 24 hours, and only after that proceed with planting in the ground at the rate of 50x50x50 cm, that is, the depth, width and distance between plants should be equal.

Having prepared the landing pits, it is necessary moisturize them well.- It is recommended to use 1 bucket of water for each hole. After that, you can proceed directly to planting seedlings. The roots should be carefully straightened and placed in a hole, then covered with a substrate so that the grafting bud is at least 7 cm deep. Tamp the ground, and the next day it is necessary to spud the bushes and water them abundantly.

Variety care

English pedantry is inherent in this variety of roses, so all care procedures must be carried out in a timely and proper manner. Subject to simple rules you are guaranteed to get a beautiful well-groomed shrub with abundant flowering.

Watering

Humidity- one of the components of success in growing Graham Thomas. should be moderate, but at the same time timely. As soon as upper layer dried up around the shrub, you should proceed to water procedures. The amount of water depends on climatic conditions, so it is not possible to determine it unambiguously: here you need to rely on your experience and intuition.

Fertilizer

Immediately after planting, at the beginning of the growing season, should be applied. Phosphorus and guarantee a successful set of buds - this is better to bring in -. In August-September you can feed roses. For the benefit of this tender rose it is better to approach with caution, and also adhere to the principle that it is better to underfeed than overfeed.

It all depends on your imagination and how you see the plant in yours. Be sure to cut off only the affected and drooping shoots, as well as flower stalks that have faded. All the rest of the manipulations with pruning and shaping the shrub, you can carry out to your taste.

Protection against diseases and pests

All english roses can't stand excess moisture: because of it, plants most often get sick. As preventive measure it is necessary to drain the soil well and not flood the plant. In rainy weather, you should shake off the bush and buds from drops.

I would like to emphasize that Graham Thomas roses get sick and are extremely rarely affected, as they are very viable and stable.

Reproduction features

Propagate these roses cuttings and layering.
Reproduction by layering is considered the simplest and most subject to even amateur gardeners. To do this, you need to choose a strong young shoot, cut off the tip, insert a match there. Then you need to attach the stem to the ground, lightly dig and water.

The procedure is carried out in August, and in the spring it is possible to separate the finished seedling from the mother plant.

It is considered less successful, but it is also quite widely used. For cuttings choose strong branches. A stalk with 2-3 leaves is considered a successful seedling, while 1 or 2 lower ones are removed, leaving only one leaf. Then planting material planted in prepared fertilized, loosened and moistened soil at a distance of 20 cm from each other.

Roses are always associated with classic sophistication and romantic antiquity. Therefore, it is not surprising that the derivation pink varieties are engaged in England - a country of good traditions. One of the best English varieties is the Graham Thomas rose.

Bred this variety in 1980 by English farmer David Austin. The variety was named after a friend of Graham Thomas, with whom the farmer had been breeding roses for many years.

The variety is a branchy shrub growing from 1.5 to 3.5 meters and 1-1.2 meters in volume. The undoubted advantage of the plant is that it blooms continuously throughout the season. Graham Thomas blooms with yellow terry cup-shaped inflorescences, the diameter of which reaches 8-10 cm. The bud hides about 75 of the thinnest petals that hide the center. Outwardly, the flowers of an English rose resemble peonies (see photo).

A distinctive feature of the variety is a characteristic pronounced aroma, which is especially felt in cloudy weather, in the morning and in the evening.

Graham Thomas roses are excellent for use in landscape design. Bushes look great as a separate decoration of the garden or front garden. Shrubs can also be used to decorate hedges. Most widespread grade Rose Graham Thomas received in his homeland, in England. There shrubs are an integral part of park design.

Choice of location and conditions of detention

The Austin variety is absolutely unpretentious in cultivation, but the quality of the plant depends on how good the care will be.

Lighting and location

The ideal place for planting Graham Thomas roses is a well-ventilated area, illuminated by the sun for 6-7 hours a day. The rest of the time the plant needs partial shade. If the plant receives a lot of light during the day, it will grow a low but colorful bush with large buds. Under the condition of a deficit of light, the bush will go up in growth, and the flowers will be small. It is undesirable to plant roses in the lowlands, as it accumulates there cold air, which has a detrimental effect on the plant.

Temperature

Roses Graham Thomas are picky about temperature regime capable of withstanding frost. But it should be understood that cold temperature the plant will not grow large, and the buds will also small size. The rose gets along well in a temperate climate at a temperature of 25-28 degrees.

Air and humidity

Maintaining the right level of humidity is a prerequisite for successful development varieties. Since the plant does not tolerate drought well, it needs moderate watering as the soil dries up. Excessive moisture will also interfere with the plant, since it has a weak immunity to fungal diseases, rot and other diseases resulting from waterlogging.

How about drafts

As already mentioned, the rose bush needs ventilation, but not drafts. Therefore, when planting a seedling, it is necessary to choose a place protected from the wind.

Priming

Rose Graham Thomas makes special demands on the soil in which it will grow. It must be a fertile, light earth, freely passing moisture and air. But, if the soil in your area is not suitable for growing a plant, it can be fertilized. For heavy clay soils needed:

• humus;
• compost;
• sand;
• peat.

Clay with manure or humus is added to sandy soil.

It is also necessary to maintain the desired level of soil acidity. For the fruitful development of roses, a slightly acidic environment is needed. With insufficient acidity, manure and peat are introduced into the ground, and with excess - ash, chalk, limestone.

The composition of the soil is given attention when planting a plant. So, drainage material is poured into a shallow (about 60 cm) hole under the bush, a layer of compost or manure is poured on top and garden soil. After that, a seedling is placed in the hole so that the grafting site remains above the ground. Water the plant immediately after planting. As soon as the moistened soil settles, more earth is poured there. Around the seedling, the ground is covered with peat.

Features of care

The rules for caring for a rose by Graham Thomas are simple, but the main thing is to observe their timeliness and correctness. During the season, you need to carry out several procedures:

1. Watering. As already mentioned, it is important to prevent the plant from drying out and waterlogging.
2. Top dressing. Importance For the development and growth of roses, fertilizers are applied. So, during the growing season you need to make nitrogen fertilizers. Phosphorus and calcium are needed for the development of buds before flowering. By the end of the season, roses need to be fed potash fertilizers. It is important to observe the correct dosages, since with an excess of organic and minerals the rose may start to hurt.
3. Pruning. There are no special requirements for this procedure. It is important to cut off damaged, and especially rotten parts of the plant in time. rose bush also pruned for decorative purposes.
4. Pest control. Main harmful insects that can damage the plant are aphids, spider mite, cicada. As a remedy against them, you can use a solution of laundry soap, which you need to spray the leaves and buds. In order to prevent the appearance of these insects, marigolds and yarrow should be planted near the bush. These plants repel pests.
5. Disease protection. Most frequent illnesses to which English roses are susceptible - diseases that occur from an excess of moisture. This gray rot, powdery mildew, black spotting. In this case, you can use pesticides, for example, Fitosporin M, Gamair, Alirin B.
6. Shelter for the winter. Despite the fact that the winter hardiness of the variety is increased, there is a risk of damage to the roots in the spring during the snowmelt period. Therefore, the bushes need to be covered for the winter. Before this, the bush is completely cut off, leaving only an escape with several soils. Then the bush is added dropwise with soil, a layer of sawdust or leaves is sprinkled on top. In regions with severe climatic conditions, where the temperature reaches -30 degrees, the plant is still covered with a film on top.