Now is a good time to transplant a potted rose in the ground or in a bigger pot.
In the ground Dig a hole in your ground 30cm x 30cm x 30cm, fill it with water and let it drain away. Remove your rose from the pot and place it straight in the hole (do not tease the roots). Backfill half way with soil and water to remove any air pockets. Then backfill the rest of the hole and water again. Sprinkle with a little bit of fertiliser.
In a bigger pot The bigger the pot, the better: we suggest a minimum size of 40cm x 40cm x 40cm. Use a good quality potting mix, like a slightly acidic blend that is suited for Roses and Azaleas.
Water your pot regularly; this could mean everyday in summer and every second day in Spring and Autumn. Never let the potting mix dry out. Dry potting mix will repel the water which results in the water running down the sides and not actually soaking the root zone.
Potting Mix will have added fertiliser that will need topping up after 6 months. Add a small handful of granule fertiliser and water in.
After 3 – 4 years you will need to replace the potting mix, and you can change to a bigger pot if you like. Plan to do this for winter time, when the rose is dormant: prune the branches of the rose as normal then take the rose out of the pot and remove as much as the old soil as you can. You are allowed to trim the root system: the top and bottom of the plant need to be approximately the same size.
Your rose will Thank you with renewed vigour in Spring.
(Picture: Desdemona growing beautifully in a big pot - photo courtesy David Austin) | 
