I feel like several members here garden in your conditions without any shade cloth sucessfully. I hope they comment on this thread.

I'm usually one of the last people to recommend rose society info since it is so off for my climate, but you may want to look at this article.

https://tucsonrosesociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Louis-110-Now-What-Should-I-do-8-5-18.pdf

Lily, I’m not too far away from you in Arizona. I live in Sierra Vista, so not as hot as the Tucson area, but higher elevation. I copy what you’re saying: Arizona sun is a whole new level! I’m NOT good at long term pot growing for roses, mostly because I feel the sunshine is so strong it tends to cook the roots. But obviously, it can be done successfully. I’m pretty sure Mesquite Valley Growers has a shade cloth over their huge rose area and they’re all in pots and look happy. You may be able to get some info from one of your local nurseries about what weight your shade cloth should be.

I grew roses in Phoenix and Lake Havasu City in the ground in full sun. They were fine as long as they got watered, especially when newly planted. I did not grow roses or much of anything in pots in Phoenix except some Aloes we had in terracotta pots back behind the shed lol. We hardly even watered those and they were fine. They got a little afternoon shade though.

When we had a placein Lake Havasu, I had a bunch of tropicals in pots including bananas, gingers,etc. I had a shadecloth set up for them and a mister that I turned on a few times a day in the late afternoon. The in ground roses were fine in full sun. I did have an Intrique rose tree in a pot in full sun. It got watered daily. Our whole yard was practically gravel there which made everything hotter and the house had that cement textured stucco. I called it the gravel pit lol.

What sort of wall would be in back of your roses? I thought about shade cloth, but have gotten much improved results simply by sticking a piece of inexpensive bamboo fencing between the plants and the wall.
Here it is just after pruning time, two weeks ago.

Forum members advised me that the hot light-colored wall was the real problem. Since AI set these up, fewer bug, no chili thrips, and much happier roses. Here is Bolero.

I set these up, gosh darn it. Not AI. No AI in my garden.

Sylvia , your photos stopped me in my tracks and i immediately sent this link to my husband because I have the same block wall ( ours is an AWFUL color ) and I’m afraid to paint it . Stucco isn’t in the budget but the bamboo is ! And it looks fabulous!!’ Our wall is very tall tho , so I need to figure out the height but I thank you for posting bc this is an obvious solution to my ugly wall problem . That haunts me every time I look at it !!

Lily , I agree with asking a local nursery what they recommend. I have a ton of pots as well and I’m not sure how my sun compares but it will be 100 ish for 3 months minimum and it’s so awful on my pots . I hate standing and watering in the heat , so my plants really go through it in the summer . I am not near a faucet to make a drip system plus I have too many roses lol . I try to water once a day but once that heat hits a couple weeks in it turns into survival of the fittest .

A couple things that help : mulch on top

Cardboard under the pots to stop/ slow the heat transfer ( mine are on a concrete driveway ) and i personally use patio umbrellas. Simply bc I don’t know how I’d use shade cloth but believe me I think about it every summer . Maybe posts in the ground and hooks , I’m not sure !

It is so hard to garden when the summer is SO hot and drying . It feels like an oven most days . It dries me out instantly. We don’t even need towels out of the pool lol . You can smell the heat on the concrete. I can air dry my hair in under ten minutes from the shower 🤣. It really amazes me how dang hot it is !

one other thing , i got a baby pool for my smaller pots to sit and soak up water in . verry classy ! but it helps lol

Though I don't think I can offer much help on the original question, I sure do sympathize with all of you who have srious problems with the heat and the sun. I'm in Tuscany, Italy,and I feel sure it can easily compete with Arizona sun. The summers here have become absolutely brutal. My garden has a south-west exposure, which makes matters much, much worse. I truly relate to you, Lilyfinch.

The last two summers I have tried mounting shade cloth from June to September over my baby floribundas (planted in the ground, not pots). I used long pieces of thin rebar curved like arcs and draped the cloth over these, holding it in place with clothespins. But this is not a permanent, stable structure by any means,and I don't think it answers Lily's question at all.

I would also have any pots up off a hot surface and keep the actual pots covered from sun exposure so the roots don't cook especially if you don't use the shade cloth. You could lean a board up on the south side of the pots so the sun does not heat the plastic directly, or place a smaller pot in a larger pot to protect it.

Wooden half whiskey barrels are a good option for hot areas because wood is a poor conductor of heat.

Also, those thick foam pots (faux stone looking) stay cooler. I know this because I have used them with no hole in the bottom, for waterlily tubs. When I reach my hand way down to the bottom, its very cool- almost cold down there even in the summer.

@sylviaww 9a,hot dry Inland SoCal The bamboo fence is a brilliant idea! May I ask where did you get those? Home Depot?

I think you can get that bamboo fencing in a variety of widths. I've definitely seen it as 3' and 6'. One idea might be to cut it down to surround your pots (in other words, wrap it around the pot)... that should provide a bit of insulation, and wouldn't be bad looking. I've also heard of people painting their black pots white.

KJ 9B, sorry for late reply but yes, HoDep was my source,

Sorry to hear you’re having a rough time, Lily… I sincerely hope you can find light and courage to move forward. I am happy to hear that you’re finding solutions for your predicament with the intense sunshine. Please update with photos when you have your poles and lights and shade cloth set up! It sounds like you have some wonderful plans! And since we live not too far away from each other, here’s an invitation to come visit my gardens if you ever get to Sierra Vista! I’m only an hour and a half from Tucson.

Judi- That is such a kind offer—I would absolutely love to visit your garden! From your descriptions, it has always sounded so dreamy, and seeing it in person would be incredible. And of course, anytime you're in Tucson, you’re more than welcome to stop by. I’m actually working on a video tour for Kitty, but a visit in person when everything is in bloom would be even better.

Thank you for your kind words—it really means a lot.

That sounds so fun, Lily! I have found very few local gardeners to connect with and I get to Tucson frequently. I’d love to stop by when your garden is blooming this spring. Mine won’t be at its best till April sometime .