Planting a rose in a pot is a versatile and rewarding gardening method. It allows you to create beautiful displays and grow roses in a wider variety of spaces. Whether you have a sprawling garden or a small balcony, container gardening can bring greenery and colour to your outdoor space.
By following these simple steps, you will ensure your potted shrub rose gets off to the best possible start.
Roses can be planted all year round. Bare-root roses are traditionally available between November and April, whereas potted roses are available all year round. Avoid planting during extreme weather conditions such as frozen ground, waterlogging, or drought.
- Make sure the rose has some sun, ideally at least 4 hours of sunlight a day.
- Generally, the more sun the better. However in the hottest areas, shade from the afternoon sun can be beneficial.
Having the right pot conditions are crucial for the success of your rose. Here are some guidelines to follow:
Size
Ensure your pot has a minimum internal dimension of 45cm x 45cm (roughly 60 litres). Aim for a larger pot if possible, as the more space the roots have to spread, the better.
Pot material
Roses can be planted in any pot with adequate drainage. However, terracotta or dark-coloured pots may retain less water than other pots and so may need watering more frequently.
Soil medium
When planting roses in a pot, we recommend they need a 50/50 mix of John Innes No. 3 and multipurpose compost. Mix this up before filling the pot.
Drainage
Make sure your pot has adequate drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. To aid drainage, use gravel or, broken croccrockery, or re-use blocks of polystyrene at the bottom.
Roses grown in pots use nutrients in the soil more quickly, which cannot be as easily replaced as when planted in the ground.
For best results, aim to apply a layer of mulch every spring to add goodness to the planting medium.
Step 1Rehydrate your roseBegin by rehydrating your rose. Water the potted rose thoroughly and set aside whilst preparing your rose’s new home.
Step 2Prepare your pot for plantingPlace drainage materials in the bottom of your pot and fill the pot with a 50/50 mix of John Innes No. 3 and multipurpose compost. Fill the pot until it is about halfway full, lightly pressing the compost down to eliminate any air pockets.
Step 3Position your rose in the potCheck that the rose will fit nicely into the pot at the right height. Place the rose in the pot with the graft union sitting about 10cm below the rim of the pot.
step 4Apply David Austin's Mycorrhizal FungiSprinkle mycorrhizal fungi straight on to the roots before adding the second half on the planting medium.
STEP 5Fill-in around your rose with compostPlace your rose into the centre of the pot and continue to fill with your compost mix, firming the soil as you go.
STEP 6Water the roseWater your newly planted rose thoroughly, ensuring that the water can seep down and reach the roots. Roses in pots do dry out more quickly than those planted directly in the ground, so do check your rose often to make sure it has not dried out.
When replanting a potted rose, they may experience replanting shock and may begin to wilt. This is entirely normal, and the rose will soon recover if kept well-watered.
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