Planters too small for roses? Alternatives?

I bought four of these planters with trellises to have them spread out along a fence with for climbing roses.



Due to my lack of knowledge and research, I then discovered that apparently planters need to be a minimum of 45cm depth and width for roses.

Mine are 35cm width and 30cm depth

I guess I've got two options: send the planters back and get bigger ones or grow a different plant up the trellises that don't require so much depth.

These planters were a really good price and have nearly trebled in price so getting even bigger ones would simply be unaffordable for me to achieve what I want.

Can anyone recommend nice colourful plants that can grow up a trellis in planters that are just 30cm deep?

Thanks very much and hope you can help.

 

I would just plant the roses. Keep them well watered and fed. They may not grow as well as in the ground but they should still produce a nice display.

 

You could grow some of the newer type of Clematis, they repeat well and are smaller

 

They probably are to small for roses. What variety of rose are you growing to grow ? it would depend on how vigorous the rose is. They are lots of other plants to look at .

 

Hopefully you have not actually planted the anything in them yet as that might make it difficult to get a refund etc ?

The roses will grow in them this first year, acting as a bit bigger pot than what they came in ?

However for next year you do need a much bigger pot or if possible into the garden soil, but as @Perki says we need to know the name of the roses you have to be able to suggest a suitable size pot.

Also the trellis which looks about 1m above the planter other than appearance will be of little use for most climbing roses which typically grow 3m+ high.
Same with Clematis, many again easily grow 2m+ high, though there will be many other plants you could fit in those planters, possibly small Shrubs Rose might work if you are intend on roses ?

 

Thanks for all your replies I really appreciate it.

The planters are still in their packaging so they can be sent back. As said, I got them at a special price so I got two more (6 in total) with the idea of using the trellises of the extra two to add height to the other four and use the boxes for something else.

The total height of these are 120cm but I can extend them to the height of the fence panels at around 170cm.

Regarding what type of roses, I don't know. I phoned 'David Austen' for advice. They said bush roses are self supporting to around 4 feet and I would need climbing roses to go higher. That's the extent of my knowledge so far! Clematis look okay too. Regardless, I'm assuming they can be trimmed/pruned every time they grow too tall?

I'm beginning to think this project might now be doomed. I'd have to spend a 'lot' more money to get bigger ones.

Someone else has recommended 'noisette roses' which I'm looking into. I'm guessing any vigorous ones are a no no.

My wife just likes the idea of these neat little planters growing something pretty up the fence. She wanted roses because I murdered a glorious one a few years ago when extending the patio. She still hasn't forgiven me.

 

Hi,

If we read your reply right, you have not actually bought any roses yet ? as your opening question kind of gave the impression you had them.

Assuming thats so, its probably best to hold back on ordering any and wait for some better advice from the more experienced rose growers like our @wiseowl who may be able to suggest some rose that would be happy in those planters.

Are pots/planters essential or do you have a garder border you can put them in ?

If you talked to Austins, did you ask them about using those small planters and if any Rose would be suitable for them ?

We would not chop back a Clematis the way you are talking, again they prefer a cool and deep root run so are best suited to garden soil than small pots.

 

Just reread my opening question and you're right, I do seem to imply that I had already bought some roses. I haven't yet.

I will hang on for more advice then. I'm also starting to learn more about roses. If there's any hope with my set up then it looks like it'll have to be small climbers which would be fine.

I have a border along the north facing fence which has weed membrane down with stone chippings on top.

**EXTRA** If I may ask this question instead that may solve the issue: Looking at the planters I have bought, what would you recomend that I put in there where the trellis is used if not roses?

Thanks again.

 

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/garden-...eds-bulbs/vegetable-seeds-bulbs/beans/c/beans

Pop over to Wilkos and get some French bean seeds; pretty flowers too ! any climbing variety that you fancy
Any compost should do, then lace it with Blood Fish and Bone fertiliser
Plant about 2 inches deep and water -- lot's of info on the net

 

Those planters look really nice @Gn0me

Whereas climbing roses are probably way too big for them, miniature and patio types should do well as long as you commit to keeping them fed and watered. A modest, evergreen climber would also fit in to bring some height and shape- variegated Ivy comes to mind. There are very attractive small leaved ones that don't get too big.

 

I called a company who basically concurred what David Austen said but also said these patio roses would be fine for my planters:

Front Border & Patio Roses - Style Roses

I'm just wondering if you can get these sort at tangible businesses such as B&Q?
I find places such as B&Q or online 'special' offers tend to be considerably cheaper but is there a reason for that? Is there a big difference in the quality of a rose even though they are the same variety?

Thanks again.

 

We were in our local B&Q Garden Centre yesterday and the plants looked mangy, to say the least.

 

I think one of the major problems with buying plants at non-horticutural businesses comes from not having a experienced gardener looking after them. It's a crying shame to see plants in tiny pots outside in the full sun & heat. What can you expect from the poor things? They can't very well get up & move to a shadier, cooler position. Then there are those that die of thirst & those that die from drowning! Or those that are put out at the very beginning of the growing season - often in freezing winds which are brought back into the warm shop overnight only to be stuck outside again the next morning before the day has had a chance to warm up a little.

Garden centres are little better as they make their money not from selling plants but from all the sundries & accessories they sell! Then there's all the garden furniture to take into account as well!

 

It's perfectly possible to buy good plants from supermarkets. This spring I came across a named, well labelled patio rose that (after a quick googling in the shop) exactly fitted my bill. It was bare root and looked strong and healthy and has settled in very well. Not bad for a £1.89 from HomeBargains

If you are not set on a specific variety, perhaps you could hunt around when bare root season begins and hope for the best. Bare root plants are strong and it's easy to see their condition as the packs are mostly open top these days. Morrisons is always a good bet and Aldi/ Lidl also have them occasionally.

And during your hunting period (it could well be that you will have to wait until spring) you could always fill the containers with seasonal bedding.

Buying online is more of a gamble because you can't inspect the plants first.

 

Take out the base planks in your containers and plant them back where you want them. You can enrich the soil below the planting hole, and improve drainage. Your roses will grow well and chances are you'll have to extend, and join, the trellises as well. As long as you're not going to want to move them they'll look great for years with regular annual pruning!!!