How to Plant a Rosebush in a Pot

Plant your rosebush in a container for a moveable garden centerpiece.

Rosebushes are lovely additions to the landscape. For portable accents, plant rosebushes in pots, which can be relocated when desired. For best results, use a pot that is at least 15 inches in diameter to provide your rosebush sufficient space to grow. A plastic container is less likely to freeze and crack, while a clay pot stays cooler in warm weather. Once you have selected a pot, you can plant your rosebush within a few minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Clay or plastic pot, at least 15-inch diameter
• Rocks or gravel
• Potting soil

Instructions

1. Spread rocks or gravel about an inch deep in the bottom of the pot.

2. Fill the pot with potting soil about two-thirds of the way up the side of the pot. Do not compact the soil.

3. Place the rosebush into the pot and allow the roots to spread out under the bud union. The bud union is located directly above the roots; it resembles a closed fist and has a round, sometimes lumpy, shape.

4. Pour potting soil around the bud union, which should be positioned slightly below the top of the soil line or level with the top of the soil line. The bud union should not be buried deep under the soil. Do not compact the soil.

5. Saturate the plant with water.

6. Adjust the bud union if it has shifted after watering and add additional potting soil to the pot if the soil has compressed.

7. Water the rosebush often, as container soil dries out quickly.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase a potting soil specific to rosebushes or create a mixture of potting soil, compost and manure to provide a nutrient-rich soil for your roses.

References

• Rose Magazine: Growing Roses in Containers
• Colonial District Roses; Container Planting for Rose Bush Replacements; Howard Jones
• Rose Bushes: Planting Guide