Do my roses need supporting?

[MethodWoman]

I planted 2 roses last June and they are (surprisingly) doing well so far as I’m not known for my gardening skills. They are blooming but the heads of the roses are too heavy for the stems, so they are growing outwards rather than upwards. Should I be supporting them? And if so what is the best way to do this?
Photos attached. Many thanks

Some of the old fashioned english David David roses are notorious for this!

From what I’ve heard they often stiffen up a bit with age but they are ultimately supposed to be droop slightly I believe, I think I’ve seen it described before as ‘lax, romantic habit’

I would drive me bonkers I’m afraid, i’m unsure how I’d try and support them though as supports often look very unnatural.
I think I’d try a peony ring type support first.

**David Austin.
The old fashioned, super frilly, English country style David Austin roses.

I have the exact same thing with my Constance rose. The other day I saw a rose which was stake up and it looked lovely. I might try it....but will follow this thread with interest.

I have the same with Lady of Shallot. I now cut them for an arrangement in the house.

My mum has an amazing rose which flops if left alone. She uses 2 large heavy duty metal semicircular supports, which were prob £££ but they look very nice and classic and don't detract from the beauty of the rose.

I’ve put a peony-style support around David Austin’s William Shakespeare rose, which is a notorious flopper. Several of my roses seem very top-heavy this year - I suspect it’s a combination of a better than usual winter prune and then the very mixed weather.

I’ve just bought a birthday present for someone , a metal obelisk from
Agriframes, which I think will look rather lovely with a rose growing through it - they grow a lot of roses.

I hope they like it because it is slightly bigger than I expected! ( the birthday isn’t until August , it is stuck in my hallway, my shed hasn’t got room for it and I’m not carrying it down into the cellar or pushing it up into the loft).........

Thank you all for your comments. Ok well that is good to know I’m not doing anything wrong. I’ll have a look at some of the supports suggested and see if they will work. I might try some twine and a cane in the meantime

I have the same problem with my DA Gertrude Jekyll which is a shame as there are so many flowers on it but they are all hanging down. I've bought some metal 6mm rods and bent them into a flower support as seen here. It's far cheaper than buying them.
I bought 3m lengths which are a but long, maybe 2.5m would have been better. I'm going to put green plastic wide mesh to support lower down. Bit late to put them on now, early Spring would be better so the rose can grow through it and won't be able to see the mesh then.
www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-make-steel-rod-plant-supports/

"COME ON THE ROSES"..
Job done!!

@30degreesandmeltinghere

"COME ON THE ROSES".. Job done!!

They are probably deficient in calcium and need feeding. Get some bonemeal, or blood fish and bone mix, then apply it to the soil beneath them. Usually does the trick.

Just looked at the photos - is that a camelia in the background? Camelias require acidic soil conditions to stay healthy, so chances are you have acidic soil, which explains the calcium deficency.

@30degreesandmeltinghere

"COME ON THE ROSES".. Job done!!

The roses thank you for your support @30degreesandmeltinghere

@UrbanRambler no it’s not a camellia but will give the bone meal a go. Thanks for your advice.

Glad to help OP. A few years back I had the same issue, and a keen gardener gave me the tip. Since then I feed my roses each year with bonemeal,, which I mix with compost and spread under the roses each spring. It works well.