Roses in pots?
Andi-sadoldsod
Posts: 15
Hello again .............. here's a specific question. I'm new hereabouts and most of my attention is focused on the back garden: But, I used to make a bit of a fuss of the small front garden (yard, plot, patch, bit between me and the road) as much so that it looked as though whomever there/here at least give a damn, Well I put a big pot out by the door and planted it up, eventually put a Wisteria behind it (I likes Wisterias) and tried my hand at a few hanging baskets.
Well, the basket always ended up all overblown, and the pot always ended up blown over. for such a small bit of colour it took an inordinate amount of effort.
Now with my recent efforts around the back (steady) I've ignored the front this year and every passing tom dick'n'harry has felt the need to mention it! SO, thinks I, perhaps if I was to put a David Austin old rose in the pot, it'll mean I can trim the Wisteria (which is getting away quite nicely it seems)?(It flowered last year for the first time - I was beside myself as I wasn't expecting anything for a few more years yet).
Anyhoo ................ pictures in chronological order (ish) to give one an idea of the task in hand - sizes and proportions etc..................
No Wisteria............
An early spring pot - Wisteria first year.
Summer shot with the Wisteria in place - second season I think?
This year before last - not such a sunny day but the Wisteria's found its feet now - Ivy (Gable wall) has been cut through at the neck and is slowly crumbling to dust - It just got too much, was growing like a weed and if you didn't keep on top of it; by crikey did you pay for it next time - it was always getting away from me. Then came the year when I just couldn't get the ladders out and thought "it's time to go".
I want to cut the Wisteria back to the trunk at the bottom and replace the foliage with a good DA Rose in the pot - "Is this possible ... or wise". I'd like the structure of it all year round and plant beneath it with chuckable bedding just to fill up the pot rim come summer?? This aspect btw is facing due West but it is very susceptible to prevailing winds which rattle down the street unopposed - to the right as you view the pic'.
The whole front is bordered by some aged Weigela and a Lacecap Hydranga which although "smashing" creates a lot of shadow and dampness in the front - I'd like to open this up a bit more so that'll be my next question.
Thanks for looking in .................... cheers.
Posts
I think it would be a dreadful shame to hack the wisteria and that pot is too small to be a permanent home for a rose.
That said, there are roses which are suitable for pots but not all of them. I suggest you go on the David Austin website and send them a mail asking which ones are best suited to pots. I've found them to be very helpful when i'e had questions about hardiness.
If you do get a bigger pot, make sure you put it on pot feet to help with drainage so the base never gets waterlogged and rots the roots, fill it with best John Innes no 3 compost and give it annual tops ups of specialist rose fertiliser in spring and a weekly feed of liquid tomato food in spring and early summer as well as the regular waterings.
Andi, I think it looks very pretty how you've done it. Summer bedding is good because it last through the summer, especially if you dead head and prune a bit. Roses look lovely when they are flowering, but they have times between when they can look quite messy and uninteresting, so not so good in a small space like that.
I have David Austin roses in pots, but bigger pots than yours. Lady Emma Hamilton is especially successful. But they need a lot of feeding and watering - and don't forget prickles by the front door! I give them rose fertiliser 4 or 5 times in a summer.
OK ... thanks everyone - it looks as though I was getting a bit ahead of myself. It was just a thought that had been bimbling around my head - nice to be able to tidy it away now .................
Thanks again.
I've got the Lady of the Lake and Malvern Hills in planters (50 cm x 50 cm x about 45 cm), they are both DA ramblers. I've only had them since spring, but so far they are OK.
I also think the wisteria looks lovely.
I've planted in a pot 'little white pet' which we got from DA and can't remember if it is a DA or a recommend but this is under planted with heuchera (3 varieties). It is a delicate rose and is planted in a corner. Was only planted autumn last year so will be a while before it looks the part by hoping for a bit is year round colour