You can grow roses as a groundcover
Would you like to cut down on the areas you would normally have to mow grass? You could plant roses as a groundcover. This will produce an effect that is quite pleasing to the eye. Roses as a groundcover won't kill underlying weeds, therefore you will still need to prepare your ground to cut down on the chances of weeds growing underneath your groundcover.
They can grow out as wide as six feet and upwards as high as 2 feet. This may help you decide how many plants you'll want to buy for adequate coverage.
The image of a rose plant is usually that of a rosebush, not as a groundcover. This is a fairly new concept. The beauty of it, of course, is more than just the benefit of coverage, but also that of gracing your yard with the ever-popular rose. Why use a groundcover at all? It helps prevent erosion on banks, grows low, and covers a wide area. The groundcover rose is not to be misinterpreted as a ground-hugger.
It's best to choose for repeated blooming and disease resistance. Pruning may still be necessary, depending on the effect you desire. Of course, to keep the groundcover looking its best, monitor for dead stems.
Some available choices for groundcover roses are: Flower Carpet Coral, Flower Carpet Appleblossom, The Fairy, Baby Blanket, Red, White, or Pink Meidiland, Foxy, My Rosy Carpet, and Sea Foam.
If you want strong fragrance, be sure to check on that feature before you purchase your groundcover rose. Many modern roses are simply not bred for a strong fragrance, but more so for your viewing pleasure.
Groundcover roses do tend to be quite thorny. Thorns for a true rose grower are but a minor inconvenience. If you'll need access to the areas or plants nearby, you'd do well to consider placement so you aren't continually fighting the abuse from being pricked and scratched. Weed removal is more of a challenge with this type of plant.
A particular favorite among groundcover roses seems to be the Flower Carpet Series. However, Rosa 'Glacier Magic' has a spectacular white flower. It is said to have glossy, large, self-cleaning flowers that are highly pest and disease resistant. The white blooms help the plant stand out and demand attention. It's like adding a light to the darkness of a non-blooming groundcover!
Some groundcover roses don't resemble your traditional expected vision of a rose. For example, the Rosa 'Nearly Wild' has fewer petals and opens wide. It's a colorful vision that is still a joy to own.
When deciding where to plant your groundcover roses, remember to avoid areas where foot traffic would be a hindrance or vice versa. Consider whether you'll need to drag a water hose out to the area. If so, you may want to purchase a soaker hose, and make sure it will be the proper length. If you'll have a big area to maintain or if your groundcover will be spread out to include various areas of your yard, the purchase of a wheelbarrow could be an asset. Gloves that protect against thorns may be needed. Such items as a hoe for weeding, clippers for pruning, and knee pads could be necessary purchases.
Solutions to common rose gardening problems