E-brown & So-Hooked - These plants have very vigorous root systems and quickly become root bound. Being tight in the pot affects budset AND reduces branch extension, so it is not a good thing. Best performance can be had with regular attention to root reduction (every year, or every other year at most) and an annual pruning up top to rejuvenate branches. Additionally, continually watering ANY plant in sips is a death sentence. It guarantees that soluble salts will build up and remain in the soil. There is direct relationship between the amount of solubles in the soil solution and the plant's ability to take up water - the more salt, the more difficult for the plant to absorb water and the nutrients dissolved in water. I only mention these facts because I want others to know that while some folks might be satisfied with a more relaxed approach to care, better results are possible with a little more attention to husbandry. It's also important to remember the point I made above (about fertilizer). It's worth rereading. The plant prefers less P than most plants and it likes more K. Al

redsox, I am married, with a teenage daughter, having a full time work, and taking an online collage class. I leave home about 7:20am and come home about 5:40pm, then cook, clean, study, etc. My gardening time is mainly for a weekend if I don't go out, and a little bit here and there after cooking & finishing a dinner during a weekday if I can squeeze some time. What I do for roses are: Water (my hubby's hobby) No-spray Organic fertilizer twice in a year Deadhead Pruning if they get too big Plant OGR I think one of the important thing is how you take the gardening. To me, I am busy, and I like to enjoy the gardening, I have other interests and like to spend some time for them, I can not spend too much money, and I do not like to be stressed out. Therefore I plant the roses that will do good in my area with a minimum care. There are so many different varieties of roses that will meet my liking. I am not sure how old your children are, and maybe you can teach them the enjoyment of gardening by turning them into free garden slaves. :)

Oh my, sorry to hear about the ankle. Ouch! I live in zone 5 in Omaha, NE, but I grew up in NW Iowa. I am guessing you have rich black dirt. I was so surprised moving to NE to learn that not everyone has that pretty dirt...lots of clay in the soil here & it is orange/brown. What part of NW IA are you in? I grow Distant Drums, had 2 but lost one over the winter a few years back. I think it may be one that isn't as hardy. I also have Country Dancer. It has thrived and is about 4 foot wide and 3 foot tall right now...It is about 8-9 years old. Most of my roses are grafted and I plant the graft deeply (got that great advice here). I have around 75-80 roses. I usually lose about one a year, though this year we had such a mild winter, they all did very well. I don't do a lot to winter protect with so many roses. I generally let the oak leaves blow around them & call it good. Of course I will baby a few of my absolute favorites! But if you only have a few, I would mound up dirt around the base in the fall.

I agree with hubby. :) When I bought mine last year, it was soooo pretty all loaded with pink flowers. I wasn't thinking about what I'd do with it in the winter when I put it in a gigantic pot that is difficult to move. We're by the coast so our winters are not usually super harsh, and our garden is sheltered from the wind so I thought I'd risk it. it worked out fine. If you bring it in for the winter, it should be in a unheated spot, like a garage. Otherwise you will bring it out of dormancy. :) Yes, dormant is when it drops its leaves. I've read to bring them in after the first hard freeze. That's what I tend to do - during my winter clean up I bring in stuff like my other topiaries and dahlia tubers. I've always heard slightly moist. It's dormant so it won't be taking in a lot of water. I have other topiaries that go dormant (smaller than my rose, I keep them in our unfinished basement) and I give them a little drink once a month.