Planting a new rose in a bottomless container

Hi everyone

I have a climbing rose that I've had for ~3.5 years. It's doing well and growing strongly, but I don't particularly like the flowers, it doesn't repeat, and it's not scented. I'd really like to replace it with Generous Gardener which I adore.

The issue is that my garden is small and I've planted quite densely, so if I were to replace the soil in the spot that the current climbing rose is in (to avoid replant disease) and plant GG, I'm concerned it'd be too shaded by surrounding plants (which have grown much bigger than I anticipated!) and the new rose would have too much competition to do well.

I was thinking of planting GG close to the current one and watering really well until it gets big enough to do well, then remove the old one. Alternatively, I was thinking of planting GG in a bottomless container/raised bed near to the old one so it rises above the other shrubs faster, but I'm concerned that that might inhibit the growth of new canes

Does anyone have advice? What I really want to avoid is replacing out a climbing rose that's doing well and is really healthy and then having nothing because my new climber fails!

Thanks so much

 

I'm having another very tempting browse on the DA website so just bumping this :D

 

Hello. I'm sorry no one answered. I've only just seen your post.

The Generous Gardener can tolerate some shade. My daughter had a small rather shady garden and she had one which grew well.

I think a large bottomless container sounds rather a good idea. I've grown small climbers in large pots successfully but GC is vigorous. Having it bottomless should solve that. Also mean no risk of replant disease. You would probably have to water and feed it more than a rose planted in the ground.

 

Hi @Busy-Lizzie, no worries thanks so much for the reply! I'm glad the bottomless container seems alright - it was my preferred option but I was just nervous it might I don't get new canes. I guess it will need to be fairly wide? Or do they just find their own way?

It's also really good to hear GG does well in a shadier garden!

 

When I grew climbing roses in pots I used pots at least 60cms deep and 60cms wide at the top but they weren't bottomless.

 

There are other options, you could use some microrhizal fungii, on the roots when you plant that is said to overcome the replant issue or if there is space plant into a cardboard box (sink into the ground) full of fresh soil by the time the box rots away the rose will be well established.

 

Thanks so much to everyone who responded! I went for a 60 x 60 x 45 bottomless raised bed so hopefully it'll have lots of room to thrive. The scabiosas are looking pretty sad after being relocated but will hopefully perk up soon!

I'm a little disappointed with the GG I received from DA as it doesn't seem to have a very strong structure - anyone else agree or do you think it's OK?

 

Your rose looks fine to me, nice and healthy. Don't forget it's only a baby, it will grow new strong canes. David Austin roses often take 2 to 3 years to get going.

 

thanks @Busy-Lizzie! glad it seems fine. can't wait to see how it does next year!