Choose a container that will be large enough to accommodate the rose . For bare root roses , a pot that is forty to fifty centimetres in diameter will work . I recommend using potting soil as the planting medium , but the mix should include some well-rotted mushroom manure at a rate of two parts potting soil to one part mushroom manure . Roses are very heavy feeders and will do well with the addition of the manure . Before planting , soak the bare root roses in a pail of water overnight .
To prepare the container for planting , place five centimetres of gravel in the bottom of the pot . You can also use broken terracotta pots . This layer will allow the water to drain through but not the soil . Next , fill the pot two-thirds full of the potting soil mix . Place the rose ’ s roots over the mound , spreading them out gently as you go . Fill in the soil over the roots and firm it once you have added enough . For hybrid tea roses , the soil level should be just above the bud union , which is the swollen part of the stem where the rose is grafted onto the rootstock . If you find the rose is too deep in the pot , or if the soil level is far below the edge of the pot , start over and raise the soil level in the bottom of the pot .
Since roses are such heavy feeders , you will need to fertilize regularly for optimum performance . Use a fertilizer with a higher second number such as 15-30-15 . Fertilize at half the recommended strength every two weeks . You may also choose to use a slowrelease granular fertilizer suited for containers .
This will keep nutrient levels more even and free you from having to fertilize at regular intervals . Roses prefer full sun for at least six hours a day and will not perform well in semi-shaded or shaded locations .
Here is a list of some roses I have grown and enjoyed for their form but mostly for their fragrance :
● Fragrant Cloud – One of the most fragrant roses I have ever grown . Hybrid tea . Large flowers 8 – 12.5 cm . Coral red in colour . Free flowering .
● Honey Perfume – Floribunda rose , former All- America winner . Apricot yellow blooms . Spicy fragrance .
● Ebb Tide – Hybrid tea . Flowers double resembling old-fashioned roses . Colour purple reminiscent of grape juice . Intense clove-like fragrance .
● JP Connell – Explorer rose . A personal favourite . Creamy white bloom with yellow centre borne singly or in clusters . Almost thornless . Very hardy .
● Charles Albanel – Explorer rose . Medium red . Hardy . Disease resistant . Low-growing and spreading .
The days of restricting container gardening to annuals have passed . Today , small-scale gardeners continue to push the envelope when it comes to containers . Having a rose garden on your balcony or deck can be as easy as planting a petunia in a pot . Have fun looking for your own choices of fragrant roses . Sitting on your deck or balcony enveloped in the sweet scents of roses is one of the true joys of summer . Who says you need a rose garden ? Containers allow you to smell the roses anywhere .
Gerald Filipski , our gardening columnist for almost five years , reminds us of a quote from Luther Burbank , “ Flowers always make people better , happier , and more helpful ; they are sunshine , food , and medicine for the soul .”
news & views SUMMER 2022 | 17