Hi All!

Last summer I bought a beautiful home in Tacoma with a beautiful yard. The last owner was a major gardener. He was, apparently, out in his yard almost every day (according to my sweet, but nosey neighbor) and LOVED his roses! Seriously. There are so many roses. I've counted 80+ and keep finding more tucked away in corners! There are 40 roses on the side of the house that I didn't even know were there until after we closed!

I know. I'm naive.

After I moved in, my gardening was pretty much just clear out the dead stuff and trim down the roses, but now that I'm settled, I'd like to make the yard my own. First step is removing most of the roses. They're nice but allergies and a dog who keeps getting stuck on the thorns make them a no go. I'd like to maybe keep 10 of them.

I'd love some tips for replacements! My ideal is something that's native or thrives in the PNW that requires limited attention. As much as I like flowers, I'm super allergic to anything very fragrant. I have some dahlia bulbs and poppies to plant but I'm looking for bush and shrub ideas for the areas where the rose bushes are currently. Looking for something hardy and longterm.

Any tips for someone who's only cared for houseplants before this would be super helpful!

Erika

Erika,

This would be a good place to ask questions and get suggestions.

http://extension.wsu.edu/pierc...

Additionally I'm thinking this would be another great resource concerning the roses:

http://www.tacomarosesociety.o...

I have found this web site very helpful for natives:

https://green2.kingcounty.gov/...

I'm further north, in Snohomish County, but I like this site for its suggested planting diagrams for different scenarios. I applaud you for thinking natives, that is my current focus. Good luck.

Erika, how is your project going? I would not want the care of that many roses myself. I find them temperamental and time consuming. You might want to post something in the rose forum re what is best time to move them if you are thinking of either selling or giving them away. I have good luck with just putting plants at the end of my driveway with a free sign - makes me feel less like a murderer! Someone always takes them.

My wife's first husband also had roses, but not that many, maybe about 5 or 6 bushes. They became neglected when he got sick with cancer and died. When I came along 10 years later, we dug them all up and tossed them (I wasn't into gardening at that time or I would have found homes for them). We have one that I bought a couple years ago, a climbing rose, but frankly, it may go to a swap meet at some point because I've found that I just don't like plants that fight back when you're trying to care for them. Wife has the final say whether it stays or goes.

You can try Plant Amnesty, but I had better luck finding a home for some native blackberries through Next Door if you're on that.