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rose in containers: mulch with JI-3 or bark chips
Newb
Posts: 211
Last winter I had planted David Austins bare root shrub roses in pots (55cm) with John Innes no3. They have been growing well but over time the soil in pots have settled down and there is like 3-4 inch gap from rim to the soil line. I am thinking of topping up the pot with something.
First question is - Is it ok to top up as that will bury the stems by 2-3 inches?
Second question is if it is ok to top up then shall i use bark chips mulch or add more John Innes #3 ? Hesitating to use manure as last time i used manure at some other area of garden and it didnt smell good for few days. Roses are in my patio and I am loving the fragrance at the moment.
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Use JI#3. It does seem a biggish gap. I would wait until the roses are dormant then tip them out and replant so that they are higher in the pot and they'll have the benefit of fresh compost. Burying the stems might not be too good for them. It may cause rotting.
I agree.
Make sure that when you replant the graft union is below the soil.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Ok. I can wait till they go dormant. Replanting will be huge task though as the plants and planters are big.
The graft union is already buried under soil. When I replant, do I need to plant at same level?
Yes Newb. But as punkdoc said, make sure that where the roses were grafted the graft is beneath the soil surface.
Not wishing to be deliberately contrary, but my advice would be different, in that there is no need to empty these roses out of the pots, seeing as they are already in large containers, but simply top up either with some extra compost preferably mixed with pea gravel for increased drainage or pea gravel on its own. I just scrape some away when I want to feed or add some more compost. I wouldn't top up with manure or bark chips as they can interfere with nitrogen levels.
Austin roses admit themselves that they have a number of their potted roses in pots for several years without changing the compost. I read it on their rose gallery section I think it was, so no need to fret.
I still feel that if you cover a few inches of the stems, you will risk them rotting. If you are careful to add more compost to the pot, whilst keeping it clear of the stems, that would be ok.
Not sure I would want to be adding extra Nitrogen at this time of year.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
This Forum is great! its good to hear lots of problem solving ideas from folk, after all, they are just ideas/suggestions. If I were you Newb I'd contact David Austin and get the experts views.