Should You Plant Roses In The Ground Or In Containers? Pros And Cons To Consider

Gorgeous, fragrant roses are highly desirable and a favorite among gardeners. Although healthy rose bushes can provide beautiful blooms for years, they are often challenging to grow. The trick to having vibrant, attractive roses is to select the ideal location and plant them correctly. If you are wondering whether you should plant roses in the ground or in containers, there are pros and cons to consider regarding each planting method. 

When determining the best place for planting your roses, it is important to consider the amount of available space, quality of the soil in your garden, and how long you want the roses to last. If you want to enjoy healthy rose bushes for many years, planting them in the ground will be the better option. However, if you have limited space and heavy soil that doesn't drain well, a container garden may be the ideal choice. Once you know where they will be planted, hundreds of species and varieties are available in the Rosa genus, so you have plenty of options for growing stunning roses in the garden. 

Planting roses in the ground has benefits for the long-term health of your plants. When roses are planted in the garden soil, their roots have more room to expand and grow and get more access to nutrients. As a result, roses planted in the ground have a longer lifespan compared to those planted in container gardens.

Considering the health and longevity benefits, in-ground planting may seem like the better option, but that's not always the case. Roses won't thrive in a growing medium that gets waterlogged easily, and they'll be more susceptible to diseases and root rot. So, if your garden soil doesn't drain well, in-ground planting may not be a great idea. Likewise, if your yard doesn't have a sunny location, any roses you plant there won't thrive, and keeping them potted and in a well-lit spot makes more sense. Finally, if you have limited garden space or prefer to grow the flowers on a patio, deck, or balcony, then planting them in the ground is obviously not possible.

If you've decided on growing roses in the garden, first find the best place to plant them. Select an area of the garden that gets a minimum of six hours of sun with somewhat acidic, nutrient rich soil that drains well. Dig a hole in the ground that is twice as big as the root ball of your plant. Backfill the hole, then water the rose. Add a layer of mulch around the base of the plants.

There are certain benefits to planting roses in containers. Roses grown in containers can be placed anywhere on your property, which makes it easier to find a spot that's well suited for the plants. Thanks to their portable nature, container roses are easier to protect from excessive sunlight and extreme weather conditions. They also get better air circulation than their in-ground counterparts, which makes them less susceptible to diseases (with the exception of root rot).

That said, potted roses require more attention and maintenance. They do not have access to the moisture and nutrients naturally found in the garden soil, so you will have to provide adequate water and fertilization. As the plants mature and their roots outgrow their containers, you will need to repot them. Another major drawback of growing roses in containers is that they produce fewer blooms than those growing in a garden bed.

To plant roses in a container, select a pot with drainage holes in the bottom and fill about two thirds of it with a mix of compost and soil. Place the plant in the container and backfill it with the medium to about an inch or so from the top. Compact the potting medium and water the plant. Whether you're planting in the ground or in containers, avoid these gardening mistakes to get more blooms from your roses.