How To Plant Garden Roses Into Containers Or Pots
Planting a rose into a container gives you flexibility to freely move around your plants and maximise the enjoyment you get out of them!
We recommend using a heavy, frost-resistant pot which will add stability and help retain moisture. A pot measuring a minimum of 12-14 inches wide and deep for smaller Patio or Ground Cover roses, and a half barrel tub for large Climbers and Rambling varieties.
Use John Innes No.3 loam-based compost in the container with an added layer of stones or broken pots to help with better drainage. Mix a generous handful of Empathy Afterplant Rose Feed in with the compost and then begin to fill the pot.
Position the rose in the centre of the pot, ensuring the crown of the rose is a couple of inches below the pot’s rim, this allows space for the rose to be watered. Then fill the compost up to the point where the root’s base begins.
If the rose you are planting is already in a container, place a scoop (30g) of Rootgrow on top of the fresh compost. If you have a bareroot rose, sprinkle a scoop of Rootgrow onto its roots before planting. Place the rose into the pot and fill with compost, then compress the compost with your hands and top back up in needed. Make sure the rose’s crown is not covered by any of the compost. Water the rose well after you have finished planting it.
What Compost Should I Use?
Never use ordinary peat-based muti-purpose compost! Your roses will not like it in the long term and will grow poorly and with die back, causing damage in winter and possible death. So called ‘experienced gardeners’ often use the wrong medium when planting roses in a non-loam-based compost, if your rose dies after planting it with a non-loam-based compost we cannot replace it under our terms and conditions of out free replacement guarantee. We recommend you use John Innes No.3, which is available from most good garden centres.
Can Standard Roses Be Planted in Containers?
Yes, simply follow all of the same steps above, but allow for a large sized container in a heavy ceramic or terracotta. It is important to still use a Stake and Tie even when placed in a container to protect against cross winds.
How Often Should I Water My Roses in Containers?
Frequent, daily watering during hot weather is essential for roses planted in pots. If you fail to water them it is extremely likely that they will die. Water often to prevent this and consider using a plant sauces under the pot to help retain water and good moisture levels in the compost.
Do I Need To Feed Roses in Containers?
Certainly! Roses planted in pots and containers actually need more food as they are unable to receive nutrients from the soil around them. They should be fed 3 times a year in March, May and July, using 1-2 handfuls of a good rose feed, we recommend Empathy Afterplant Rose Feed which is sprinkled around the base of the plant.
