Gardening with roses in pots can offer a world of opportunity for those people keen to create their own slice of rose garden heaven in smaller spaces. 

There are many roses ideally bred and suited for this very reason, and most come under the heading of Miniature / Climbing miniature or Patio roses of 60cm/2ft high. 

We think floribunda roses are more suitable for pots than hybrid tea varieties, as they have a shorter and bushier growth habit. 

Indeed, with the exception of large climbers, most roses can be grown in pots.

To make rose gardening in pots easy, there are few simple things to remember:

• Always use a premium quality potting mix full of nutrients. We recommend a slightly acidic blend that is suited for roses and azaleas.

• Roses will thrive better in large pots suitable for their size and for growing into over time. Go bigger rather than smaller to allow the roots to spread and establish. We suggest the minimum size of 40cm x 40cm x 40cm.

• Plant with the graft above the soil by 2 - 3cm.

• Ensure your potted roses are in a sunny spot with at least six hours of sunlight a day.

• Water your pot every day in Summer. Every second or third day in Spring, Autumn and Winter - depending on your rainfall. Never let the potting mix dry out, because dry potting mix will repel the water and the water will run down the sides and not actually soak to the root zone.

• Feed regularly with a liquid fertiliser every couple of weeks, and monthly sprays of organic solutions to avoid the onset of pests and diseases. A complete organic fertiliser applied monthly will also top up the required nutrients. Follow the instructions on the bag as to how much according to the size of the pot and plant.

• After 3 - 4 years, replace the potting mix. Do this in winter time, when the rose is dormant: take out of the pot and remove as much old soil as you can. You are allowed to trim the root system but try to keep the top and the bottom roughly the same. Fill with fresh potting mix and re-pot your rose (see more details below).

(picture on the right: Desdemona in a large terracotta pot)

After a few years of being in a pot, the rose is likely to develop a very strong and vigorous root system, and this will often be seen ‘above ground’, that is, in the rose plant’s foliage and flowers, as a distinct loss in vigour. 

It means it’s time to repot it.

• Take it out of the pot and reduce as much of the root ball as you can by pulling out the matted roots. You can even cut some of the roots back to reduce the size of the root ball.

• Plant it back into a larger pot with fresh potting mix and fertilise, mulch and water it well.

• You will be rewarded with a more vigorous plant in the coming season, that will continue for the next few years.

(picture on the right: Grace in a large terracotta pot)

Our Special Sale on selected rose varieties is still on, and these are some of the 20 varieties we've chosen for you:

Apricot Nectar

It's a vigorous and fragrant rose in unique buff apricot colour, featuring large, fully petalled blooms, in a traditional rose shape. It has good disease resistance and copes extremely well in heat.

Dublin Bay Clg

It's one of the best climbing roses available, producing a show of spectacular medium-sized blood-red blooms which repeat flower throughout the season.

Jodi Lee

An absolute showstopper! With each bloom combining a mix of apricot, pink and peach, it is a hardy and healthy floribunda, producing blooms consistently throughout the season; good for pots, mass planting or on its own in the garden. 

Pink Ayoba

Pink Ayoba is a tough almost evergreen plant with striking pink single blooms: great for attracting bees and for great mass planting to create a statement. Healthy and free flowering, this vigorous and disease resistant plant is heat tolerant.

(pictured on the right)

Sophy's Rose

Sophy's Rose is a rosette style rose in a deep pink:  hardy, disease resistant and with excellent repeat flowering. It makes an ideal shrub, with beautiful elongated foliage and masses of blooms. Ideal as a well rounded shrub or trimmed for a hedge.

Find the complete Collection here.

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Our nursery is closed to public in Winter time, as we are busy digging plants, but you can always contact us during our office hours:

Monday to Thursday, from 9am to 3pm

Friday, from 9am to 1pm

Ph 08 87393321

[email protected]