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Is it ok to trim bareroot rose roots?

CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
edited November 2018 in Plants
Hi guys 

I have received my bare root roses from David Austin and one of them (Munstead wood) strangely has its roots growing almost sideways from the rootstock rather than downwards. This means that im having trouble putting it in a container because I can't get the rose in the center because the roots hit the side of the container and I would have to bend them all to fit it in.

So would it be ok to prune back a few of the thicker tap roots a bit so that it fits or should I get them to send a replacement out? Im sure i read somewhere that pruning the tap roots might even be beneficial as it stimulates more fiberous feeder roots which is better for roses in pots? In not sure how true that is though.

Thanks
Craigh
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Posts

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    edited November 2018
    Having planted a host of bare root roses last year, I am going to hazard a guess here and say that your containers are too small. How big are they? Roses will need room to grow especially ones that are not specifically patio roses. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
    It is 17inches. It's only 1 inch less than they recommend for their smaller roses. I understand Munstead wood is one of the smaller ones?
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    If your pot is 17 inches across the top, that should be plenty of room for your rose to go in the middle (assuming you are putting only one rose in). I would just gently bend the roots round and down. According to the DA website, it will grow to 3.5 feet all round so you will have to move it into a bigger pot or better, into the ground, in a few years. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    Yes... you can trim all the roots back by half if you want, it's not a problem... I've done that many a time, especially if you are planting roses in shallow ground..

    'Munstead Wood' will take a while to get to 3.5 feet here, and with pruning it's easily managed.   Your pot will be fine for quite some time...
    East Anglia, England
  • CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
    @Marlorena why will yours take a while to get to that size?
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    Well, I've had my plant I think for 3 years now and it's about 2.5 - 3 foot.. that's how I keep it... it does throw up a stiff upright cane which shoots up to 3 foot or so, but which I don't like, so I prune that off to  keep it a rounded shrub... as it looks odd otherwise..  

    this photo is from 17th June this year.. bear in mind there are 2 Munstead Wood's in this photo side by side... I actually have 3 together but the other one isn't visible..
    I could have kept one of these in an 18 x 18 inch pot quite easily I think... best of luck..


    East Anglia, England
  • CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
    @hogweed Yep only one rose is going in the pot and I plan to keep it in the pot 3 years max and then it will go into the ground when I buy a new house.

    @Marlorena that is one stunning rose! I have to say i think having 3 of these type of roses planted together looks way better than one on its own. I cannot wait to see mine flower next year! In fact that little section of your garden looks beautiful!!

    Do you have anymore photos of your garden Marlorena? I would really like to see more of it :) 
  • CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
    What is the white plant on the left and the purple penstemon looking plant on the right? :)
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    @CraighB
    hi Craig.... yeah... that white plant is a flax.. Linum perenne 'Album' to give it its correct name... it's hardy, perennial and flowers all summer... I used to have the blue variety but that did not come back, so I stick with the white.. I have 2 and wonderful plants, evergreen and bushy all winter too..
    The Penstemon is 'Westminster Belle'.. one I like very much.. nice foliage and easy to grow... survives anything winter throws at it.. and simple to strike from cuttings..

    Thanks for asking about my garden.. I appreciate that... I might put a couple of pics here later..  I'm in East Anglia by the way... can get rather cold in winter.. hot and long dry periods in summer.. almost semi arid this part...
    East Anglia, England
  • CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
    Thanks for the plant names @Marlorena. I think the flax makes Munstead Wood really stand out! It looks pretty and very cottage garden style, which is my favourite and I love the colour combination!

    East Anglia is actually one part of the country I haven't visited much at all although im told it's lovely! Im in the Midlands so I think we get a mixture of weather really but its nice not to have the extreme weather that some parts of the country have to deal with.
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