I have a Munstead Wood and a Darcy Bussel and both are doing very well.

Darcy Bussel

Munstead wood

Munstead wood

Breanna,

I only have Olivia Rose from Austin and she's in a container. I got her last fall quite small, so I never got to see what she could do last season (not even a bloom, she was too young, more like a band)

.

This Spring she is my most promising. It grew a lot and has very, very healthy foliage.

I can count around 20 buds on her, which for me is huge, especially for her first season as last fall doesn't count. Until this spring, I only saw a few buds at a time on one bush (2-4 max) and I've been growing roses for 3 years (this is my 4th).

This year I fertilized the living lights out of them because it looks like whatever I thought was enough, turns out it wasn't. I used Mills Magic Mix, plus some MG granules (someone said that's crack for roses and they were right) and some liquid EasyFeed more recently.

I now see lots of buds and I am very excited.

I can report on how she will do over this season.

Here are Olivia's buds now. She's drowning those pansies around her which will come out soon.

Severe_novice that Olivia looks like it is doing incredible! I would be very excited as well. This is my first time trying to grow a David Austin so I am hoping mine do alright as well. I am in zone 3 so there is no way it would survive unless it’s in a container. Thanks for sharing!!

Breanna,

Olivia was amazing from the start - which is less than I can say for most of my other roses, including those in the ground. Looks like there is reason why so many rave about her. Now I am not sure about the other Austins as I avoided buying them, having heard they usually don't do well in the South. Except for Olivia - and so far, she is living up to expectations.

Then again, that's maybe because she is newer and this year I think I figured out how I am supposed to fertilize. Then again, Belinda's Dream is in a pot too...and in her second season. She is still spindly, didn't leaf out in the bottom half.

I am excited to see Olivia's color in my conditions, but knowing there is some kind of cool, almost lavender-pink to her, it's all good. In my world, nobody can go wrong with bubble gum/lavander/very cool pink in a rose; and if she fades all out to a white due to the heat around here, I am fine with that too, as I wanted a white anyway.

If I could have it my way, I would cover everything in climbing roses with lots of cool pink blooms - like in those romance novel covers with Fabio on them (LOL). No, they are not my kind of literature (LOL) but Lord, do I love that frilly, romantic pink-blooms-all-over look.

What rose do you have in your picture above? That pink is a bit warmer - but I love it too.

One can never have enough pink!

I grow Mary Rose in a container, she started in a container then I moved her out in the yard didnt like it and now she is back in her container hehe... I did not cut her back this year as she was recovering from the move. I also grow Harlow Carr, Jude the Obscure, James Galway (first season), Young Lycidas (second season) in containers.

Mary Rose

Harlow Carr

Jude the Obscure

Severe_novice

What type of magnesium do you use to fertilize? I had to love the look of garden roses everywhere. If I can get them to do well in pots I will be one happy girl. I ordered princess Alexandra or Kent and windermere(a creamy white)

Breanna,

I have not used any magnesium other than a bit of Epsom salt around my roses in the ground, but I don' think I added any in my potted roses.

If you referred to the MG granules, that meant Miracle Grow slow-release fertilizer.

Crack for roses. That thing WORKS - especially in making big, strong buds/bloom :).

Haku: tell me more about your Harlow Carr and Mary Rose. Harlow Carr looks SUPER impressive from that picture. Can you tell me more about how they behave in your Hot, Dry Southern California Climate. Do they hold onto their petals for a long time? How do they compare to Princess Alexandra of Kent’s performance for long lasting blooms and prolific blooms from Spring to fall. Of all your David Austin Roses? Which would you consider your best performers?

I agree haku's Harlow Carr is so beautiful - it stands out.

Haku,

Do you have a picture of Grande Dame? I mean, like your own. :)

Severe_Novice Ohhhhh Miracle grow, okay that makes more sense haha! I am kind of surprised that its that simple, I thought for sure they would need some sort of rose fertilizer but I definitely have that on hand! Thank you for the tip! I just looked up the Olivia and they are sold out. I may have to try a local garden centre when they open here (its currently snowing now .....fingers crossed it starts to warm up after this week! We were at +16C yesterday and now were -2C today, ugh) You will have to update us when your Olivia opens!

I do! La Rose de Moilnard is another amazing rose in my yard its a work horse and always in bloom. It wants to be a climber but self supporting and loaded with flowers.

Grande Dame and Queen of Sweden in the back

Grande Dame and Eden

Grande Dame, Golden Celebration, and Teasing Georgia

Grande Dame and Violets Pride

La Rose de Moilnard

Breanna - for fertilizers I've been using Dr. Earth and like the results. I've added now Mills Magic Mix liquid fertilizer. I believe a lot of people like Rose Tone. With roses in containers you would want to feed weekly weakly.

https://www.millsmix.com/

https://drearth.com/product/total-advantage/

haku84 - Thanks so much for the information, I will check out those links. I am not sure If I will be able to get them in Canada here, I know its weird with fertilizers crossing the boarders but I will see if I can track those down.

Have you ever planted a bare root rose? I am wondering how long it takes for them to leaf out and bloom. And really start to put on some growth. I dream of these huge containers of roses since I cant have them in the ground. We will see if that comes to fruition thought.

Breanna - Sorry did not realize you were in Canada, I think you should be able to maybe find Rose Tone there. Yes the majority of my roses were bare root, I live in Sunny Southern California so our growing season is pretty long. I have some bare roots I put in the ground two weeks ago they are already leafing out. I first soak them in a bucket of water for months I know I probably shouldnt do this but it works for me. I've had roses start to bloom in a bucket of water.

When you get your roses make sure to soak them in water before planting to re-hydrate them. I have one I put in a container yesterday, I will take a picture of it for you. What part of Canada? I think you should use plastic light weight containers so its easier for you to move them should you need to bring them into the garage for the winter.

haku84_zone9- Okay those are great tips! I have been doing alot of reading on what to do with them when I receive them so I hope they make it haha! And wow you soak them for months! Thats crazy! I was thinking I would do it overnight and plant the next day.

I am in Saskatchewan, I have a few trudrop planters that are self watering and lightweight that I was thinking I would use. :)

Breanna,

That MG is especially formulated for roses. I try to alternate, some granules and Magic Mills mix early in the season, and afterwards, mainly liquid.

From what I understand, the trick is to do some dry fert in the beginning of the season or maybe another time later, and otherwise, they want liquid fertilizer weekly weakly, as haiku very well put it. Maybe every two weeks less weakly.

Haiku,

Grande Dame is striking indeed. Is she prolific too?

Haku: What an AMAZING garden you have. Please share more pics. I love seeing them. Question: which is the more prolific constant bloomer for you with more buds and blooms... Princess Alexander Kent... OR... Grand Dame???
Also how big is PAoK for you? Could her size be easily managed if she’s pruned or is she one that requires a good deal of space to really do well.

What type of container mix are you using in your rose containers ?

Feeding Regimine is all liquid I presume (like any container).

For those do see winter, any need to over-winter under the deck, inside the garage, etc ?

Haku: thank you again for sharing all those pictures. Do you also happen to grow Olivia Austin? Right now I’m trying to decide between Olivia vs. Princess Alexandra of Kent... I’m trying to figure out which would be the better Rose for our Hot & Dry Southern California Climate. Is so... what are their growth habits and bloom habits like for you?

Severe and Ann: Yes Grande Dame is a prolific loaded in blooms the only problem is the blooms are huge and so many on one cane that the cane tends to flop over. I've seen people use a tomato cage over the rose to keep the canes upright. You can also cut off some of the buds on a cane to keep that from happening. Grande Dame makes an excellent cut flower, and last long in the vase for me. I will take some pictures once it begins to bloom.

a1an: I use Dr. Earth pot of gold or the rose one and I've used the kelloggs potting soil as well. I use both liquid and dry fertilizers. With liquid im feeding once a week weakly, and the dry early spring and late summer for fall blooms. Everyone has their own routine for what works best in their gardens.

Ann - I recently just moved my Olivia Austin to a better location, it was getting more shade and not really repeat blooming for me. So I hope that now its getting more sun that will change. So Im not sure yet how she will do under the hot summer sun yet. Below pictures are old pictures of OA that was getting to much shade.

Goodness, if she's producing like this even with too much shade, I can imagine what she is capable of with a lot of sun!

Mine is on a deck where it gets about maximum sun my property allows just about anywhere. Some morning, some afternoon - probably enough. Either way, she seems like an amazing rose so far. I also like it that she seems to be petite and suited for container growing.

haku, Wow your Olivia blooms are gorgeous and so full!

Are those Iris planted near her? What kind?

I can't grow Bearded Iris here. If I could, I would be an Iris plantin fool! They are one of my favorite flowers!!

I dont have my Olivia in a pot but she is never without a bloom and is incredibly trouble free

This year I am trying Osmoscoat in the spring and then rotating fish emulsion, kelp, banana tea and alphalfa tea. And sometimes I combine a couple of them

I am still experimenting with what works best for pots.

Kristine, Banana tea? Do you just throw whole bananas in there or do you only use the peels?

I have a bunch of brown banana leaves (frost bit) that I throw into my raised beds and use as mulch etc.

Breanna, Lots of people grow Austins and other roses in pots. They do well. I think the trick is good potting soil, good drainage, regular watering and fertilizer.

Remember if you use fertilizers often, be sure to flush out your pots every few weeks or so. Just run the hose on them and water really good, letting the water run out the bottom for several minutes. This will help prevent the buildup of fertilizer salts in your pots.

I always add some compost and fresh potting soil to the top of my pots in the spring.

The pots I have that are on the dirt do better than ones on the cement. My Austins will grow through the pot holes into the soil and snake out 10 ft or more under the soil.

I use black nursery pots so if this happens, I can easily cut a few more holes near the bottom.

Teasing Georgia in pots..they can get HUGE!

Carol @rosecanadian , from Alberta, grows over 60 roses in containers, including one or two Austins, if I remember correctly. I hope she can write here something about her fertilising and winter protection strategy. I plant all roses in the ground, so I can't help much. My bare-root roses leaf out within 4-6 weeks (they are usually planted in the second half of April, so between 4 and 2 weeks before the last frost date here) and bloom end of June-early July, which would mean 2-2.5 months after planting. If they are kept in the garage in the beginning, and just taken out during the day, they may leaf out faster.

Here's a thread with some lovely pictures of Carol's roses: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5965056/pictures-from-carol-in-alberta

sultry_jasmine_nights - Okay that is great to know! I am planning on putting them in self watering pots (trudrop) but maybe now reading how much their roots can take over...maybe that isn't the best idea as it may clog the holes at the bottom....hmmm... I originally thought that the self watering would be best as they would have consistent moisture.

Magda- Oh wow, I hope carol responds as well!!! that is incredible and I would love to pick her brain on how she grows them as we are probably similar zones. Did you order your bare roots directly from the site? Its handy to chat with a fellow Canadian haha as I wasn't sure what the shipping was like. They say they ship end of April so fingers crossed I can get them going soon!

AFAIK, liquid organics or syn is for containers.

Isn't / arent the most of the granular organics not meant for potting soil - as it needs the microbes and what not to do their magic

I guess you ordered them directly from David Austin in the US? I have never tried that, all my bare-root Austins are from Hortico and Palatine in Ontario, so they are just one or two days in transit and arrive in perfect condition. I mostly grow older off-patent varieties, but I have to admit that some of the new introductions look wonderful.

Sultry, I have a bucket of water and I just toss in the banana peels to brew.

I give it a couple of days and the pour it on my potted roses.

Last year I had 3 minis that didn't do much of anything. They were on their way to meet Senior Shovel when I read about banana tea. We use lits of bananas around here so I gave it a try

Within 2 weeks I was getting new growth and new basel breaks. It will be Interesting to see how they do this year. Gigi had never looked so good.

Worth a try. Most of us have banana peels right?

Kristine what is a “bucket of wstet”... did you mean a bucket of water with banana peels soaked in it for a couple of days? I gotta try this.

Ha ha Ann, yes water

"They were on their way to meet Senior Shovel when I read about banana tea."
LOL
and Señora Loppers.

I have daily banana peels, composted with coffee grounds. Do you think the coffee mixed in would hurt?

Carla in Sac

Hey Breanna - Welcome fellow Canadian zone 3'er! I live in calgary. It's funny because the south side of the city is zone 4a and the north (where I live) is zone 3b. If I try to overwinter zone 4 perennials outside...they die.

As to Austin roses...they don't do very well for me. The one that does the best is Bishop's Castle. And the fragrance is great!

I don't know why Austins don't do well for me...but there it is. I've tried lots. If you find a way for them to do well for you...let me know. LOL

So do you have questions for me? Have you ever overwintered roses in the garage before?

Carol

rosecanadian Okay well thats good to know. I shall see how mine do! I am interested how you overwinter yours!? I have never tried overwintering roses and am curious your process. Thanks!

Hi Breanna,

I found this in my email archive as to what I do. Here it is: :)

The first thing to find out is whether or not your garage is insulated. If it's insulated then it's pretty easy.

1. Wait until the temperatures are ~ - 6 C (21.2 F) overnight. They go in then. By this time you should have taken all the leaves off (rip/cut off right by the cane). Water really, really well. Update: the roses can go in earlier...-6 is the coldest my roses can stand. And, you can leave the leaves on if you don't have time to take them all off. Then take them off in the spring.

2. Take the rose into the garage and cover with blankets. The pot should not be on the floor - but on a piece of wood or something insulating like that. (only cover roses when the temps outside are about -15 C or colder -5F)

3. Leave the rose unbothered until about February. If you have small pots..water much more often. With my large pots I leave them alone until then. Then I water them with about 1 cup of water each month.

4. In the spring, gradually start taking blanket layers off (if you have windows..I would leave a dark/thin blanket on) until it's warm enough to take it outside during the day (around +5C). Each night bring it back into the garage (uncovered) until the outside NIGHT temperature is +5C. Then you can leave it outside day and night as long as the nighttime temperatures play nicely. I used to bring them all outside as soon as the day time temps were around 5C, but covering them and uncovering them each day was tiring. Plus I think the roses didn't like the night cold...so I now leave them in the garage until the nights are (+5C). This will cause garage growth (white growth) on the canes...so I usually break those off about a week before they all get outside. It's frustrating to see all the garage growth...but try to chill (even though you're worried) (I must listen to myself ), they'll be fine.

5. Remember to water really well once they get outside. Water helps roses deal with cold.

My garage is insulated and has no windows. Windows don't matter as long as you keep the roses covered. If you're garage is uninsulated...I would cover with really thick blankets/sleeping bags. I make do with just a flannel sheet (get from a thrift store) over all of them.

I have no problem opening the garage door every day to get in/out. Roses do fine. I even leave the garage door open when I shovel snow...as long as it's not -20C/-4F or colder and the roses are covered.
I hope this helps! Good luck
Carol

Last season I had around 35+ David Austin roses in 5, 10 or 15 gallon pots. I put them all in the ground at the end of the season after they developed great root structure. This season I am already at 12 new roses with more on the way. I mostly use a 10 or 15 gallon pot with an organic potting mix but any potting mix works. Keep the pot where it gets the most direct sunlight. I use slow release fertilizer that cannot burn the plant. This is important since a new gardener can over fertilize and kill the rose. I use Scotts slow release fertilizer and one or two scoops is more than enough. Keep it in sun light and water when the soil is dry.

I kept around 10 roses in my insulated garage I bought a grow light from Lowes which was around 45$ but gave blue light that helps grow flowers and uses 20w. The roses did great in the garage and had lot of growth in the garage. The temperature went down to 2 degrees in NY but all these roses did fine inside and outside.

That is all that there is to it. NY zone 7a

For Those of your who grow Olivia Austin and Princess Alexandra of Kent, are they grafted or own root? These are my top 2 picks for my hot and dry Southern California garden. If grafted... where did you buy it? I can’t seem to find Olivia anywhere... 😫 If any of you are local to Southern California (near the Orange County Area) and have an extra one you want to sell me... I’ll happily help you make room for a new rose in your garden... 😉