Question
QUESTION: We lLive on Long Island. What is the difference between carpet roses, knockout roses,apricot princess roses, meidiland roses, magic roses. Looking for ground cover that will choke out weeds, grow no more than 2 to 3 feet tall, spread 3 to 4 feet,  no more than 4 hours of sun, drip watering at a summer home we visit on the weekends -- for two areas, one area behind a fence out of reach of deer and another area exposed to or open to deer. Any recommendations for either area? Thanks much.

ANSWER: Roses need more than 4 hours of Sun.  Not even a 'shade loving Rose' will endure less light than that.

When I search your specs at the Bluestone Perennials website, I come up with 47 Ground Covers that grow well in 'Mostly Shade' in Zone 7 Many even bloom.  My favorites: Plumbago, the azure-flowered, blue-foliaged spreader:

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/CEPLS.html

It attracts Butterflies and puts up with Sandy Soil.  Plus it's Deer Resistant.

Alchemilla Mollis is a chartreuse green beauty that glows in the Shade:

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/ALMOS.html

Rabbits avoid it and it does not mind a lot of moisture, if you have that problem.

Creeping Jenny is a VERY easy, care-free groundcover blooming in EARLY Summer:

http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/LYNUS.html

It too is Deer resistant.

But I recommend you let your fingers do the walking here, and walk over to the Bluestone Perennials website to play with their Custom Search.  Remember, you're in Zone 7.

It is possible that Daylilies will also suit your needs, although they are not long-blooming and Deer do adore them.

Note that the longest bloomers for Summer are not perennials, but Annuals.

Petunias are low-maintenance Annuals that spread beautifully and thrive when UNDER-watered -- meaning any drip irrigation will have to be turned off every other day, depending on the weather, for best blooms.  They also need to be clipped back every 2 weeks for best results, although ignoring them works very well if you are not looking for perfection.  They are not Weed-free but they do cover enough ground to discourage fellow travelers from moving in on their territory; occasional hand weeding will reinforce their Alpha Plant Status in the plot.  The  White Petunias need the least amount of Sun; give them a shot in your least Shady position.

For a fenced area, Morning Glories are another Annual that require very little attention once established.  They need Full Sun, however; if you have a vertical space with upper light, you might try these.

A version of Sweet William called 'Zing Rose' is sold as a Shade-tolerant Annual with Deer resistance.  It appears on the Deer Resistant Hybrids page with Geum, another Shade-lover blooming in mid-Summer, on the Graceful Gardens website:

http://www.gracefulgardens.com/deerresist.htm

I'll gladly go into comparisons of the different Roses, but if it's blooms you're looking for in semi-Shade (4 hrs or less of Sun), that's moot.  Consider too having the lower branches of any nearby Trees pruned to raise the canopy and open up the area to more light.  Your followups invited.  Thanks for writing.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We have an area , actually two, of total sunlight -- given that which of the ground cover roses would you go with so there is no dead heading, drip irrigation, topsoil not sand kind of caught between three from pictures in catalogues -- coral carpet , pink knockout, or apricot princess rose? Thanks so much for the other suggestions I will stay away from roses in those areas -- I am new to this

Answer
After thinking this over for days and days, I have to give you what I think is a wishywashy answer.  Further thinking will merely delay the same news, so I'll get on with it so as not to keep you waiting any longer.

My personal taste sends a vote to the Knockout Roses.  I don't grow these in my garden because they are just TOO easy, and I like to be challenged and also grow things that you don't see around the next corner.  Not that they are that common.  But they are terribly popular, and there's a reason for that.  

That said, you still have to know what you're doing.  Knockouts are fast growers and spreaders -- and they mature QUICK.  They need space between one another.  A minimum of 6 feet between main stems, preferably more, is optimal.

Something you can't appreciate unless you've had to deal with Blackspot and Mildew Summer after Summer is the superior disease resistance of Knockouts.  It provides resistance, at least, if not total immunity from the usual Blackspot/Mildew plague we almost always deal with.  I still recommend a diligent spray program; it's just that you can do it on a reasonable schedule as opposed to the ridiculous work you usually have to do when you grow Roses.  I can see you are not liking what I'm saying here but if you want Roses, you have to be prepared for a little work.

It is possible that you won't have these problems.  In which case just ignore me.  But for best results, spray vigorously from early spring on, to avert all potential headaches.  

Knockouts are gregarious shrubs that grow with abandon.  So besides space, they also need food, which is fairly easy -- just buy one of those slow release Rose Food feeders and shake it out according to directions.  Make sure you feed on schedule.  And DON'T forget to spray.

Note that I am not familiar with 'Magic' Roses -- where did you see these?  I checked the registry I have access to and there was no shrub thusly named from one of those popular Series of plants.

I also have to say that a lot of this plant selection is sort of like reviewing a movie.  What's important to me, maybe you would shrug that off.  All things considered, then, I think this is the best Rose variety for you.