Protecting bare root roses

Gers

I've just planted two bare roots roses outside the front door in containers. We've had days on end of torrential rain with, I'm sure, more to come.

The other morning I saw that the containers had 'standing water' on the surface.

Should they be covered up against the rain? Will the roots survive being water-logged? The bottom of the pots do have broken bits in to ensure drainage. I have no idea and my online searches have drawn a blank on that kind of info.

Justagardener

Waterlogging is not good for roses so protect the pots from excessive rain if you can. Roses are dormant at the moment so the roots will just rot if sat in over saturated compost. Conversely they don't like to be dry either so don't forget about them!

Gers

Justagardener wrote: »

Waterlogging is not good for roses so protect the pots from excessive rain if you can. Roses are dormant at the moment so the roots will just rot if sat in over saturated compost. Conversely they don't like to be dry either so don't forget about them!

Thanks so much, I'll cover the with large plastic bags when heavy / prolonged rain is forecast. They're at my front door so can easily keep an eye on them

Cheers

Farway

Do the pots have holes in the bottom?

If you buy plastic pots they mostly do not, you are expected to drill the holes yourself

The broken pots are to stop the soil washing into & out of the drain holes

only watercress will survive waterlogging, roses will not :-)

PS, stand the pots on feet as well to aid drainage & also stop worms getting in

Gers

Yes, pots are ceramic, have holes in the bottom of the drainage holes. The are on blocks of wood so if you suggest feet I may just place them on the ground as it's covered in gravel.

Tomorrow and Monday is forecast to be very cold and dry so that'll give me time to move and wrap.

Thanks.

REEN

Don't panic if your roses are waterlogged for a little while. My garden gets very wet with standing water after heavy rain and the roses survive. They might not like it but they live. Sort it if you can, though.

sheramber

If the pots have holes and are raised off the ground it would appear there is drainage problem.

Have you firmed the compost down too much?

Try pushing a garden cane down through the compost to make some holes ( avoiding the roots) hole and see of that lets the water drain away.

Gers

sheramber wrote: »

If the pots have holes and are raised off the ground it would appear there is drainage problem.

Have you firmed the compost down too much?

Try pushing a garden cane down through the compost to make some holes ( avoiding the roots) hole and see of that lets the water drain away.

No, not a drainage problem, persistent torrential rain over 72 hours without a stop. Fields under water everywhere! And more forecast.