Highlt Rated ‘Flower Carpet Pink’ Rose

‘Doris Day’ floribunda

You can grow beautiful roses in containers on your patio or deck. All you need is an adequate container size and a growing area with plenty of sunlight. The life of container roses is short,usually 2-3 years. Each spring, plants should be transplanted every year into a new container. Container size is very important. Follow these 7 steps:

1. Choose the right rose. Fragrant, compact, disease-resistant varieties with continuous blooming perform best. Smaller rose types- miniature, floribunda, and some hybrid teas work the best. Compact Flower Carpet™ roses are an excellent size for small containers for 3-5 gallon containers. Also try the Carefree™, Oso-Easy™, and Home Run™ series.
2. Pick the right pot. Anything with a drainage hole(s) will work. It should be deep enough as roses have long, deep root systems; aim for a depth and diameter of 15 inches or more. 1/2 barrels are a great choice.
3. Plant into a quality potting mix and enrich with compost to increase water holding capacity.
4. Water containers regularly so that media (soil) stays moist, but not sopping wet. If your rose container dries out in less than two days, it may be potbound or the container is too small to support its roots.
5. Feed every 4 to 6 weeks with a water soluble fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro™ or Jacks™ for more blooms. In colder zones, stop fertilizing 8 weeks prior to first frost. Add 1-2 teaspoons of Epsom salt (Magnesium sulfate) 2-3 times during the growing season.
6. Keep your rose(s) pruned: (a) deadhead, (b) size and shape, and (c) control insects and disease.
7. Re-pot every 1-2 years to refresh the soil. Transplant into a larger container if you observe a decrease in blooms.

Warning: thin plastic and clay pots may crack during freezing winters. In northern regions (Zones 3-6), winter protection of the tender roots is an absolute must.