Make the most of container roses

Roses grow beautifully in containers and if given the right care they generally do better than roses that are grown in the garden. That’s because there is no competition from the roots of nearby trees and shrubs and if there is not enough sun, or too much, you can move it into the perfect position.

Roses in containers will always be a feature.  They can be a focal point in the garden, on or around the patio, beautify a bare wall (not a west  facing one), or create an inviting entrance. Roses in pots also camouflage drains, drainpipes, and manholes, or they act as garden room dividers. The applications are endless.

Christmas is the perfect time …to include suitable container roses in your Christmas wish list, and why not include a container or two as well? Browse through online rose catalogues or pop into a rose outlet to make your selection.

Tips for knockout rose containers

Go for maximum flower power. Roses that bear clusters of blooms with a ‘tumbling’ or cascading habit like ‘My Granny’ or any of the other grannies, Sunsation roses and ‘Deloitte and Touche’ are the most rewarding. They should be good repeat flowerers so that the time between flushes is very short.

Big containers have more impact. It is okay to plant three or even four roses in one container if it is big enough. Choose roses that complement each other in colour but differ in growth habit e.g. use a bushy hybrid tea, Antico Moderno or a standard rose as the main plant and underplant it with a fairy tale or groundcover rose that cascades.

Choose Eco Chic disease resistant varieties because container roses need to be in peak condition all the time. Compact bushy varieties that will make a show, include ‘ Bravo Babylon Eyes’, ‘Butterfly Kisses’, ‘ Kissing Ayoba’, ‘Sun Kissed’ and ‘Surprise Surprise’.

Plant a fragrant variety, like ‘Pink Elephant’ (shrub rose) if a container is near the house or is passed by because the rose blooms tend to be at nose level, which adds to the enjoyment of them. Champion Hybrid Tea’s with strong fragrance that work well in pots include ‘ Garden and Home’, ‘Electron’, ‘Duftwolke’, ‘Garden Queen’, ‘Garden Princess’, ‘Memoire’, and ‘Pretty Yende’.

Mix and match!

In winter when the roses are pruned and the pots look bare, spring annuals like alyssum, pansies and violas planted around the edge of the container will brighten them up. By October the roses will be blooming while the spring annuals are past their best and can be pulled out.

If you want to include summer annuals like begonias and impatiens, plant them away from the centre of the rose so that the plants down crowd the stems of the rose. For a tiered effect use an upright hybrid tea rose in the centre ( thriller)with a more cascading groundcover rose for spiller colour and some annuals as fillers for the gaps. Daily watering and feeding twice a month is essential for good growth.

How to  get the best from container roses

• Plant the rose in a large enough pot. The minimum size is 35cm diameter for one rose The larger the pot the more water it can store, therefore the better the rose will be able to grow and flower.
• Use a rose potting mix or make your own mix of compost, friable garden soil and organics (palm peat).
• Water the pots every day in summer and every two to three days in winter. If you don’t have the time to water every day, install an automatic or semi-automatic watering system with pipes leading into each pot. Roses that don’t receive enough water will not flower as much and are more likely to be infested with red spider mites that can lead to the rose losing all its leaves.
• Fertilise once a month with a rose fertiliser like Vigorosa. Sprinkle the fertiliser over the plant and water in well afterwards.
• Check for pests like aphids or beetles and spray with an organic insect spray as soon as you notice them.

When to repot?

If the initial potting soil has the right texture the roses can grow in it for many years. Just renew the soil each year after pruning by scooping out as much of the soil as possible and adding fresh potting soil. If the rose stops thriving it is an indication that you need to repot completely. For more information contact Ludwig’s Roses at 012 5440144 or email info@ludwigsroses.co.za or visit www.ludwigsroses.co.za

Article and images supplied by Alice Coetzee. 

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