Gloria Loring has a great fondness for roses. Her garden in Sherman Oaks, California, is a mix of wildflowers, fruit trees and roses -- many grown in pots. For best results, Gloria advises using a container that is half again as wide as the plant. Before planting, soak bare-root roses, and trim away any broken or damaged roots. Make a mound in the planting hole to support the roots (figure A), and place the rose at the appropriate depth. Fill the pot with potting soil. Gloria likes to treat newly planted roses with a dose of vitamin B1. She uses timesaving soaker hoses to water her roses once a week for three hours in the arid California climate.
Watering Tips Roses take special care when you're watering. Never water overhead in climates where blackspot fungus is a problem. Don't plant roses in the path of a sprinkler. Do water in early-morning hours so the leaves will dry quickly in the sunshine. To water properly, soak the soil under the roses with a bubbler attachment on your hose. You can make your own bubbler by attaching a sock or cheesecloth to the hose end with a rubber band. Another good way to water roses is with soaker hoses, which are made from recycled tires. These hoses can be stretched out in the garden and covered with mulch for a permanent rose-watering solution.
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