How to Care for Patio Tree Roses
Patio tree roses make a dramatic statement in the garden, sporting a profusion of blossoms atop canes that average 3 feet in height. Tree roses take more care than the average garden rose, but experienced gardeners can achieve healthy plants by attending to the support and protection these structural beauties require. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Stake your patio tree rose to support the heavy top growth. You can sink a bamboo or plastic stake into the soil beside the cane, and secure the cane with soft ties fashioned from green polyurethane to keep from cutting into the cane.
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Shield the central supportive rose cane from sunscald. You can do this by staking your rose on the south side of the central cane. Use a stake made from a large bamboo stake cut in half lengthwise to provide adequate protection.
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Prune the tree rose to ensure the plant maintains its proper form. Aim for an even distribution of weight atop the central cane to prevent breakage. Remove any top canes smaller than a pencil's width, as these bear inferior blossoms.
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Fertilize your patio tree rose as you would any hybrid tea rose for maximum bloom production. Apply a water-soluble fertilizer every 2 weeks during the growing season.
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Protect patio tree roses from subfreezing temperatures. Unlike other roses, tree roses contain two grafts vulnerable to winter weather: one at soil level and one where the cane joins the top growth. Bury the entire plant after first frost to guarantee winter survival.
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Keep the patio tree rose moist over the winter, even while it's dormant. If you allow the still-living roots and canes to desiccate completely, you'll be digging and replanting a dead stick in the spring.
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Tips & Warnings
You can bury the entire pot with the tree rose over the winter, if you care to dig a trench that accommodates the rose's home. However, porous terra cotta pots break when exposed to freeze-thaw cycles.
