David Austin rose help

[Sillyhelp2021]

So today I’ve planted two climbing David Austin roses in two pots - tried to go for as big a pot as I could for each so they’re about 60cm deep.

Ive planted them in and I am worried that it’s all been an expensive exercise for nothing as I’m not very good.

Can anyone give me any tips to keep them alive. Do I need to add rose food or feed already to them?

Did you follow the planting instructions in the leaflet that came with them? Which roses are they, are they sold as being suitable for pots?

Ah no they’re not suitable for pots but I really wanted climbing roses so they told me to get as big a pot as possible

Theyre Gertrude Jekyll and generous gardener

Did you use mycorrhizal fungi? Id probably feed in a couple of weeks assuming they're in potting compost? Join the FB group, there's loads of advice specific to type etc

I have those 2 both as climbers! My chickens munched one which is planted in a shady place with not the greatest soil and it’s still alive. Roses are hard to kill I find but make sure you don’t let them get crowded by other plants and also tie the climbers diagonally in cross cross shapes when they start to grow

As you can see from my username I have a bit of a David Austen habit. I am far from an expert but I try and prune them all properly and deadhead, and Dh feeds them once in a while.

I used half all purpose compost and half John innes no 3 which is what they told me. I did also use the fungí in the hole when I planted them.

I really don’t want them to die but I’m having doubts now. Most stuff I have seems to die off after a few blooms. I took a bit of a risk I guess putting them in pots but unfortunate I have no garden so they are going onto a very sunny terrace!

I just have a horrible feeling they’ll bloom for a few weeks and die by October

I have David Austin roses in pots although not climbers. Roses are hungry and thirsty plants, so water them a lot. In this weather I’m doing them every day until the water runs out the bottom. Ive heard not to water at night because it leaves them more susceptible to disease. Uncle Toms Rose Tonic is supposedly the feed that the professionals use - You definitely do need to feed pots. They will start to go dormant around October/November but this doesn’t mean they’re dead, so don’t worry.

Gertrude Jekyll is gorgeous!
I have DA roses , dead head regularly, spray for aphids. I feed twice a year. You can train the climbs while they are growing and supple. I have not managed to kill mine!

We’ve got a nice DA rose in a pot, blooming beautifully.

For now, if you can get hold of any mulch to put on top of the soil that would be good. No need to feed them now, the fresh compost will have plenty of nutrients to start with.

If you like, you could get an organic aphid spray and use it every week or so. Water daily while it’s so hot.

When they’re older you’ll need to give them the odd feed, and prune and deadhead, but for now there’s not much to do. Roses are surprisingly hardy, I’ve found.

That’s helpful but for everyone saying they haven’t managed to kill them yet is that because you’ve put them where they’re meant to be, ie in the ground if they’re climbers and in a pot if they’re suitable?

I think my worry is I was told not to put climbers in pots but have gone ahead and done it anyway and am now worried I should’ve listened...argh!

I have these little clay balls, should I put them on top of the pots as mulch?

We brought a renovation house, I found several DA roses including a Gertrude Jekyll hidden in the undergrowth. They all flowered with no intervention so in my experience they are pretty hardy. It's so beautiful too.

I have been dead heading regularly and one of the climbers is now getting ready to flower for a second time.

Bump for the morning crowd

I have these little clay balls, should I put them on top of the pots as mulch?They will make it more difficult to check whetehr the soil is dry

I am sure they will be fine in pots. Quite often climbing roses do not flower in their first year after planting. They are putting the work in below ground to support the Rose. So don’t blame yourself if you do not get a big display next year.

Roses need water, sunlight and air circulating around them. David Austin guarantee their roses, for two years. I wrote to them about one of mine that was failing and sent a picture. They replied that I had, in fact, had the Rose for three years. They still replaced it though, saying that they could see from the photo that it was not performing well.

Oh thank you, that’s made me feel a bit better! Although when I bought them the did warn me they wouldn’t be able to help with these ones as they didn’t recommend them for pots so I was taking a risk.

Fingers crossed! The ones Ive bought already have flowers on them though although I’m slightly worried I damaged the generous gardener trying to get it out of the pot and into my much bigger pot!

Hi OP - I bought two climbing roses from DA about six weeks ago, and have put them both in big pots. I've got Gertrude Jekyll and The Pilgrim. I mixed organic well-rotted manure in with the multi-purpose compost when I potted them.

After seeing Mycorrhizal Fungi mentioned above, I've just re-read the instruction book and realised that I didn't even see that step

Both plants have just finished a lovely display of flowers but, bearing in mind the above, who knows what will happen next

Just letting you know really that you aren't alone! But try not to worry, fingers crossed everything will be just fine

Ahhh thank you!!! Fingers crossed for both of us!

Glad to see Im not the only one who just ignored it and planted them in pots!

We bought a 12ft climber… think it’s the Pilgrim..

Anyone know what this one is?

I’ve got generous gardener in a pot. Planted it last year and it’s alive, blooming well and smelling amazing so I wouldn’t worry too much

most roses will do ok in pots if the pots are tall enough.

mine are in 30l containers.

in pots they will need feeding (shrub and rose feed) after each flowering or every 2 months during growing season if it flowers continuously.

Ahhh thank you, thank you - that’s made my heart sing! All is not lost yet. Given I just planted them into compost, should I still water a feed in?

Youngest - I can’t help with the rose id but your plants look beautiful!

fresh compst contains lots of nutrients. I would start feeding in 2 months or so. depending on how it is flowering.