Enhance Patios, Terraces and Small Gardens with Miniature Roses

Patio and miniature roses are floral gems and are sometimes overlooked to the detriment of many concrete patios and terraces. These small gems can be grown almost anywhere in raised beds, pots and troughs. In smallish pots they can be moved around at will, giving the plant the best advantages for a healthy life and giving the gardener the best opportunity to enjoy such scented beauties as ‚”Rosa Crystal Palace“. This scented rose, with its soft creamy petals, can be grown alongside many more varieties where they can turn the dreariest piece of concrete into the most delightful, fragrant and enjoyable area to while away the summer hours in.

Planting Patio and Miniature Roses

Planting roses in raised beds, troughs and pots require a little more attention than the typical planting of roses in an open garden situation.

• Choose the growing medium with care. This should be a mixture of potting-compost and soil-polymer. Also add some humus rich soil conditioner.

• Soil polymers are used to help with the watering of container grown plants. They absorb the water and whenever the plant roots are in need they release it. They also prevent the soil from becoming water-logged.

• Watering patio roses is important but roses must not be allowed to sit in water as this will encourage root rot. Provide good drainage at all time. It is best not to allow water to land or sit on the leaves.

• It is best to water deeply once a week sooner than little and often.

• Sunshine is a necessary ingredient for success. Move pots around to get the best sunshine available.

• Container plants require regular feeding and for roses feed once a month with a general fertilizer.

• Bush roses and patio will look very alike in their initial stage so always purchase patio roses from a reputable supplier where the correct growing details are provided.

Before planting is started view the whole area paying particular attention to the elements, sun, rain and wind. Roses do not like harsh winds.

Favorite Patio Roses

Patio roses are simply smaller versions of the well known bush roses, they have the same basic form and glossy leaves and even the same coloring and some choice patio roses are:

• ‚”Rosa Genesis” is a classic patio rose with salmon/orange petals. It has dark green leaves, semi deciduous and it grows luxuriantly all summer long. The salmon petals blend perfectly with terracotta pots.
• ‚”Rosa Trumpeter“, standing at only 18” tall is a bright vermilion rose which blooms endlessly and the glossy green leaves are often completely covered by the masses of blooms. For temperate gardens it is practically indestructible by rain. Its leaves are deciduous.
• ‚”Rosa Pretty Polly”, is a free growing rose and even though it is not scented it has the most perfect traditional rose shape and a great addition to any patio. Its leaves are lustrous and it blooms endlessly.
• ‚”Rosa Golden Anniversary“, has lightly scented yellow blooms and it likes to be planted in full sun. ‚”Rosa Sweet Memories” is another scented yellow rose and it does well in semi-shade making it valuable in darker situations.

Dwarf Roses

Miniature roses are often called Dwarf Roses and one particular favorite is ‚”Rosa Tom Thumb” and at 12″ high it will fit nicely at the front of any planting. It is an early bloomer and its red petals are welcome in early spring. Other miniature roses are:

• ‚”Rosa Longleat“, which has small perfect fiery orange blooms. It grows to about 12” and has continuous flowering in a full sun position.
• ‚”Rosa Irresistible“, is a faultless white miniature rose. It is easy to grow, perfect in shape and is fragrant.
• ‚”Rosa Rainbow’s End“, with its big, perfect yellow flowers will bloom from early spring until mid summer.

Whether they are called patio, miniature or dwarf – these roses look particularly well in different shapes and sizes of decorative pots, troughs and urns. Cultivating roses need not be confined to just large garden areas. With a combination of climbing roses and miniature roses, gardeners with small garden areas such as patios and terraces can enjoy all the pleasures of rose growing.