Description

--Characteristics--

The Dog Rose used to be a familiar sight in country hedgerows, but is now much less common with the destruction of so much farmland hedging. Its pretty pink and white flowers on arching branches and oval scarlet hips have great charm and it has good wildlife value. Fast growing, it is perhaps best used in mixed wildlife hedging and on woodland margins to add colour in summer and autumn.

Site and soil

Any soil, but especially good on chalky land and coastal sites. Full sun.

Height and spread

Below are the approximate stages of growth, assuming sited in suitable conditions for this species;

After 10 years: 1.5m x 1.5m
After 20 years: 1.5m x 1.5m

Leaf and bark

The leaves are pinnate, divided into 5-7 leaflets. The bark is smooth and green, darkening to brown on older wood, and covered with spines.

Flower, seed and fruit

The single five-petalled flowers are usually pale pink with a white centre, but there is much variation in the species with lighter and darker flowers appearing; the centre is filled with yellow stamens. The flowers appear in June and July. The seeds are enclosed within a fleshy oval scarlet fruit, or hip, ripening in autumn.

Uses

Wildlife hedges, woodland margins. The hips are a good source of vitamin C and were collected by schoolchildren during WWII to make rose hip syrup. They are also used to make conserves, jams and sauces. The dried leaves have been used to make a tea substitute, and the whole plant has medicinal uses. The roots are used commercially as a rootstock for cultivated roses.

Wildlife

A range of insects are attracted to the flowers. Birds, including redwings and bullfinches feed on the hips, as do small mammals like Bank Voles and wood mice. A number of moth larvae, including the Common Emerald and Vapourer Moth feed on the leaves.

--Plant Protection--

--Planting & Care--

Planting

More commonly used as part of a mixed species within a native hawthorn hedge.

New hedgerows should be planted in two staggered rows 30cm apart.

We recommend a minimum of 5 plants per metre.

Aftercare

In hedgerows, the Dog Rose can be trimmed in winter. It can also be hard-pruned in early spring if a more dense shrub is required.

The main reasons for buying protection is to protect the plants against:

Pests
Spraying
Strimming

Pests

When it comes to deciding what protection to choose the golden rule is to choose the product dependent on which pest you are protecting against. The below will help you in deciding what height of protection you will need.


Vole, Mice 20cm	Rabbit 60cm	Hare 75cm	Roe Deer, Muntjac 1.20m	Fallow Deer 1.50m

Pest & Minimum Protection Height	Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.	Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Vole, Mice 20cm	Vole Guard 20cm	None required
Pest & Minimum Protection Height	Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.	Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Sorted by price; lowest to highest
Rabbit 60cm	Spiral Guard 60cm x 38mm, 60cm x 50mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs
	Tubex Easywrap 60cm x 50-65mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs
	Mesh Guard with Spray Shield 60cm x 130mm	2 x Bamboo Canes 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs
	Tubex Fruitwrap 60cm x 65-80mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs
	Tubex Ecostart 60cm x 57-73cm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Tree Shelter 60cm x 73-105mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Shrub Shelter 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 144-200mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Shrub Shelterguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 170-200mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
	Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube for Shrubs 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 170-200mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm
Pest & Minimum Protection Height	Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.	Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Sorted by price; lowest to highest
Hare 75cm	Tubex Easywrap 75cm x 50-65mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs
	Spiral Guard 75cm x 50mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs
	Tubex Fruitwrap 75cm x 65-80mm	Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs
	Tubex Ecostart 75cm x 57-73mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
	Tubex Tree Shelter 75cm x 73-105mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
	Tubex Combitube 75cm x 73-105mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
	Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 90cm x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
	Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 75cm x 80-110mm, 90cm x 80-110mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
	Tubex Shrub Shelter 75cm x 130-160mm, 75cm x 144-200mm	Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm
Pest & Minimum Protection Height	Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.	Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Sorted by price; lowest to highest
Roe Deer/Muntjac 1.20m	Tubex Tree Shelter* 1.20m x 73-105mm, 1.20m x 80-120mm *Not recommended for this species	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm
	Tubex Combitube* 1.20m x 73-105mm *Not recommended for this species	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm
	Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube* 1.20m x 80-110mm *Not recommended for this species	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm
	Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube* 1.20m x 80-110mm *Not recommended for this species	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm
	Galvanised Mesh Tree Guard* 1.20m x 300mm *Not recommended for this species	Machine Rounded Tree Stake 1.20m x 50mm, 1.50m x 50mm
Pest & Minimum Protection Height	Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.	Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Sorted by price; lowest to highest
Fallow Deer 1.50m	Tubex Tree Shelter* 1.50m x 80-120mm, 1.80m x 80-120mm *Not recommended for this species	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm
	Tubex Combitube* 1.50m x 80-120mm, 1.80m x 80-120mm *Not recommended for this species	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm
	Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube* 1.50m x 80-110mm, 1.80m x 80-110mm *Not recommended for this species	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm
	Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube* 1.50m x 80-110mm, 1.80m x 80-110mm *Not recommended for this species	Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm
	Galvanised Mesh Tree Guard* 1.80m x 300mm, 1.80m x 600mm *Not recommended for this species	Machine Rounded Tree Stake 1.80m x 60mm

Spraying

Tubex tree shelters offer the benefit of not only protecting against animal damage, they also ensure that herbicides do not come into contact with the plants during spraying.

The main reason for spraying is weed control, however, there are other options available to suppress weeds, such as weed control matting.

Strimming

Young plants should be protected from damage caused when strimming. To protect plants solely for strimming, our strimmer guards are the ideal product.