Question
QUESTION: Hello Lynnette,
I have a property in Point Roberts, WA, 98281.  It is located on the ocean facing south.  The area I am interested in planting with roses is sloped towards the ocean.  It will be windy but mainly in the winter and early spring months.  I guess that salt tolerance is also a concern.  I would like to have a lot of flowers and mainly white so I have been looking at White Meidiland, Panda Meidiland, Sea foam landscape as well as the new White out (Knock out series).  Because it is a slope the low growing ground cover is important, i.e., erosion.  Did I mention low maintenance - yes please.  I really like the prolific nature of the roses I mentioned, however, perhaps I am missing some.  Any advise you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

ANSWER: The one thing to keep in mind that when a person, including me, gives an opinion on a rose, it may grow differently in someone else garden. I garden about a block from the sea and get gale force winds over the garden. I was interested in Panda and White Knock Out but found they didn't do well at all in my garden. But again that is in my garden. However White Meidiland was okay and so was Sea Foam. When you think erosion coverage you have to think low and bushy, preferably with roots that spread out. I wish the Knock Out Series was low maintenance but I get too many questions about disease etc about them so for now I question their usefulness in a difficult situation. You will find that the winds will keep the roses from reaching their normal height but the salt will help with disease. Most Rugosas do well for me  as ground covers as I don't spray. They also sucker, which in time, will help to cover the area. Most Rugosas  do well as they came from a species that grew in the sand dunes of Japan. Look for the Pavement Series as they have whites in them and in my garden, grow without any help at all including fertilizers which of course I should give them. They also are very fragrant and people tell me they can smell them when they walk by and the wind is blowing off the sea. So for a no trouble slope Rugosas may be the answer and then up near the top plant, your White Meidiland and  Sea Foam to enjoy. Sea Foam with make a long floppy plant which will flop over the slope nicely. I know the books say 4 to 4 feet but with no pruning it can droop to 6 feet. Now when you need to keep your roses under control, simply use electric hedge trimmers as this gives the roses the type of pruning they need to stay bushy.



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

QUESTION: I totally agree that each garden can be different, even when located next to each other.  I know mine will have it's challenges, however, that seems to be part of the fun. My property has a very steep slope at the toe (willows, ivy and grasses)so the roses will not start until 75' above the shore where the property turns into more of a slope.  You mention the Sea Foam at the top - you don't think it will cut it on the slope?   The white meidiland's seem to be hardier than the panda meidiland, on what I have read.  Do you think the pavement rose is hardier than the meidiland?  I guess what I like about the sea foam and the meidiland's is the constant flowering throughout the summer.  Are rugosa's prolific bloomers - can you recommend one that might be?  Most of the rugosa's that I've read about are more bushy, i.e., 4 to 5' tall. As I mentioned I am looking for a low growing, white, or very pale pink to follow the slope.  I did put in some blanc double de coubert, but it is too upright - but I must say I love the fragrance.  I am hoping to put in about 150+ roses this April, mixed with grasses and arbutus unedo trees, with two bob's blue rhodo's - wish me luck.
Thanks for your advise Lynnette


Answer
I mentioned about Sea Foam on the top because of the way it grows sideways and puts out long canes which in time will droop.  I had forgotten you aren't planting at the very top so I guess I had visions of Sea Foam gracefully draping over.  Yes it will survive on the bank but keep in mind that this is a rose which becomes long and droopy and so could grow over the rose bush in front of it. If you want the roses to be short than some of the Rugosas I mentioned are too tall.
I like the Meilland series, but be warned they do get black spot some quite badly. Yes the pavement series are much hardier than the Meilland Series.
The best way ti keep them smaller and to make sure that they act to stabilize  the slope, is only plant own root. This will keep them smaller because it is the budding method that gives them more vigour to become a larger rose bush. Rugosa do repeat and always have some blooms on them,  the Meillands bloom in flushes. And as you know, Rugosas have the large red hips.
Here are some of the shorter Rugosa roses that won't get too big, especially if they are own their own roots. Because you are going to plant roses that have to survive in difficult conditions, make sure you buy them from a nursery that specializes only in roses.
Dwarf Pavement
Frau Dagmar
Turbo Meilland
Schneezwerg
Marie Bugnet