Preparing the pot

Potting up a Rose

Preparing the Pot

Potted roses are investment pieces for your garden that can outlive you if you take good care of them. That starts with the right container and soil.

Choose a large container that allows the roots to grow deeply, as they would in a regular garden bed. The bigger the pot, the easier your roses will be to maintain. Just like the rose, the container you choose is a long-term investment, so pick something you'll be happy with for years to come.

Potting up a rose is an excellent late-winter gardening job. At this time, it's best to plant bare root roses (dormant roots without any leaves). These are more cost-effective to order in winter than buying potted roses in spring, and you'll have a wider variety to choose from. Keep them in moist newspaper until you're ready to plant them.

• Before you begin, check the drainage at the bottom of the container. If your pot has no drainage holes at the bottom, grab a drill and make a few.

• Place crocks (old pieces of broken terracotta pots, roof slates, or even recycled polystyrene sheeting) over each of the drainage holes to stop soil from blocking them, allowing water to drain freely.

• If you're using a dolly tub (or any metal container), place a two-inch layer of potting grit over the pieces of crock to stop moisture from continuously coming into contact with the metal, corroding it over time.

• Place wool around the entire interior of the container to regulate temperature, keeping the roots cool in summer and warm in winter.

Replenishing Old Soil

Rather than throwing out the tired soil from your old pots and spending money on brand-new compost each time, follow these steps to breathe life into old soil.

• Remove any old roots. Either pick them out by hand or sieve your compost to remove dead roots from previous plantings.

• Roots need oxygen to thrive. Fluff up the soil with your hands to aerate it and break up any clumps. The process of moving the soil from the current pot to the new one will also help with aeration.

• There are lots of organic fertilisers available that don't require the use of chemicals, such as the Natural Grower Organic Plant Feed or Plant Power Pellets made from wool. These contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), the three essential nutrients for plant health.

• Lastly, add well-rotted organic manure to the mix to improve texture and boost nutrient content. Always look for organic manure like Melcourt's SylvaGrow® Farmyard, as it has been sterilised and won't contain any chemicals harmful to roses.