Frozen containers :-/
Hi guys,
I have 2 DA rose shrubs in 35litre glazed terracotta containers and I moved them close to the house last night because of the frost. I thought they would be ok but I went out this morning to find the compost frozen solid! 
I really hope this hasn't killed them! The thing is they were only planted in the summer so I think the roots would still be right in the center of the pot and not close to the edge yet. I'm not sure how deep into the container the frost has got.
What is the best way of thawing them out?
I also have buds that look about ready to open and I doubt they are going to now it's gotten so cold. Should I leave the flower buds alone or should I snip them off? I didn't know if keeping them on would stop the roses going dormant?
Posts
Well the buds actually look ok. they look like they are going to open any day now but I didn't know if leaving them on the plant would stop it from going dormant? Will the plant keep putting energy into trying to get them to flower?
Im also going to wrap the containers tonight with bubble wrap, however I read not to cover the top of the compost. If I only cover the sides of the pot, wont the frost still get to them?
the pots are more likely to die that the plants are.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Oh that's good to hear. I will still wrap them up anyway as a precaution
Quite often it's not the freezing that damages plants ... it's rapid thawing. Leave your roses alone for the time being. When the current cold snap passes you might like to bubble wrap the pots to protect the pots - don't wrap them until the compost has thawed or you will be keeping the cold in, not out.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
YEAH, IT MUST BE ALL THE RESISTING THAT CRACKS THEM UP
In the sticks near Peterborough
Terracotta is not at all frost friendly, even when it claims to be so I always put a couple of coats of clear acrylic varnish on before planting and then stand them on pot feet for added drainage. This reduces water absorption and thus freeze/thaw damage.
As advised above, leave the pots to thaw normally and then maybe wrap the pots, not the roses, in bubble wrap. Leave the roses alone too as the ends of stems can then take any frost damage and protect the basic structure. You then prune out the dead, damaged or spindly stems in March, feed and watch it grow and produce flowers.
How much bubble wrap is enough? Do the pots need just one single layer or should I do a good few layers?