How to Grow Roses in Tubs

Choose a rose bush to plant in the container. Varieties to choose from include Color Magic, Las Vegas, Princess de Monaco or John F. Kennedy.

Prepare the 10-gallon tub for the rose bush root ball. The container should be at least 14 inches deep and 18 inches wide. Mix together 2 parts screened compost, 1 part perlite, 2 parts topsoil and 1/4 cup superphosphate. Fill the container with the soil mixture to 2 inches just under the lip of the tub.

Move the dirt away from the center of the tub for the root ball. Place the rose in the tub. The bud union will be even with the lip of the tub after the root ball is covered with soil. Lightly tamp the soil down.

Water the newly planted rose bush to soak the soil. Tubs dry out quicker and will need to be watered more often than roses planted in the ground. Keep the soil moist; do not allow the soil to dry out.

Place the rose container in a sunny place where the plant will receive at least four to six hours of sunlight. Preferred locations are where the plant can get morning sun and less of the afternoon sun and heat.

Use water soluble 10-10-10 (nitrogen-phosphate-potassium) fertilizer on full-grown rose bushes once a week, but on newly planted bushes, use a water soluble 5-10-10 fertilizer diluted in half for the first two feedings, once a week. Right before frost, use 0-10-10 fertilizer once.

Prepare the rose bush for winter in fall when the rose bush is dormant. Keep the rose in a garage or cool basement where it will be protected from freezing temperatures. Only water the rose every one to two months, but do not allow the soil to dry out completely when dormant.

Set the tub outside in spring during the day to get some sun and heat. Bring the plant indoors at night. Continue this until all chances of frost have passed, then leave the rose bush outdoors all the time.