Over this past fall/winter I've moved from the cold, mostly dry prairie environment [Calgary area] here to the lower Mainland coastal climate and have enthusiastically embraced the hope of having, at last, a real living rose garden.

Unfortunately, my site her has REALLY rocky ground, drains poorly and very slowly at that. I've purchased 16 roses [6 from a local rosarian nursery and the others from a variety of 'Home Depot' like retailers - all large container grown. I've planted 6 of them [retailer sourced] into this hard ground as best I can using a 70%/30% loam/compost & sand 'garden mix' soil in holes hardly 16" deep and barely 1 1/2 round as the container. They are all doing very well if a little late blooming - but blooming they are! Another 1 I've planted in a medium sized fibregylas container [drilled several additional drain holes] and it is doint VERY well [White Lightning]. All the rest are being maintained, for now, in their original containers and appear to be breathing well and flourishing.

My problem is how, or if I should, deal with this rocky,slow draing ground [almost a half acre] or somehow incorporate a container garden into my plans to better control they're growing conditions so as to promote continued good health.

I'll try to include her a few shots of just how well they're doing so far, and they ARE! Can't figure out how to add images. I'm an old fa.t and easily dissuaded from too much computer fiddling :):)!!!