Roses in pots growing into patio

[noisycrows]

Hello, I have a pergola/archway thing with a rose in a pot on each side, growing up and over. The pots are terracotta and are starting to crack and break, so I could do with changing the pots and refreshing the compost.

The problem is I think the roots are growing down into the patio block paving. So the question is, how bad will chopping the roots affect the plants?

[nickdub]

Worst case scenario - this time of year, you could kill them, particularly if they are large rose plants and the roots go down a long way. To be sure that the roses will survive this job, it would be best done in the winter when they are dormant. At that time I'd use a pry bar to lift as much root as is feasible, then cut off as much of the top of the roses as necessary so that the roots and top look about equal.

[rary]

I would cut the rose back then the next day give it a good soak leave it for an hour or two then remove the pot enough to allow you to cut through the base about three or four inches up, I would use an old saw to do the cutting, then re-pot or plant, you might not get the same cover as you had this year, but you should get some flower before the end of the growing season

[noisycrows]

Thanks for the replies! My current plan of action then is to wait until winter, cut it back, soak it, and break off the terracotta pot. Then get as much root out of the patio as I can before scooping a bigger pot under and replacing with fresh compost. Does that sound ok?

So do the plant and roots need to be roughly the same size? The pots they're in are about 50cm high and wide, and the roses are probably 6/7ft high and 3/4ft along the top of the archway. So if I was to cut them back roughly equal to the roots I might not have much plant left! I imagine they're pot bound by now

[Jungle Jane]

Sounds like it’s huge & doing well where it is,would it do that well in a pot? There could be a couple of foot of root under the block paving? You could break the pot off carefully,build a planter around the rose with no disturbance or winter work,fill with rotted manure or John Innes number 3 whatever you want that’s best for roses?

[nickdub]

Thanks for the replies! My current plan of action then is to wait until winter, cut it back, soak it, and break off the terracotta pot. Then get as much root out of the patio as I can before scooping a bigger pot under and replacing with fresh compost. Does that sound ok?

So do the plant and roots need to be roughly the same size? The pots they're in are about 50cm high and wide, and the roses are probably 6/7ft high and 3/4ft along the top of the archway. So if I was to cut them back roughly equal to the roots I might not have much plant left! I imagine they're pot bound by now

Sounds like roughly the sort of problem I thought you might have.

I think your plan is workable, but of course its impossible to be sure of success.

A few points in addition to those you mention :-
1) If practical dig the holes for receiving the roses first, make them a reasonable size and break up the soil in the bottoms with a fork.
2) Don't worry about watering beforehand - the best time to start would be as soon as the leaves are off - say November
3) how much you need to cut off the top depends on how much root you can get out intact - say you get 18" from below soil level - you really don't want to leave more than 24" from the above ground plant - easier to pruno it when its out of the ground probably.
4) when replanting take some time to put fine soil round the roots and FIRM it up HARD with something like a sharp fence post as you go - rock solid is what you are aiming for.
5) water thoroughly after planting to wash soil close to the roots.
6) Don't replant anywhere that roses grew recently
7) water in the following Summer during dry spells.

Good luck

BTW you can use pieces of the prunings as cuttings - so you have a fallback if something goes wrong.

[noisycrows]

I'm now thinking Jungle Jane has a good idea with breaking the pot off and building a wooden planter around it. So not root damage or risk of killing it and plenty of room for more soil. Maybe remove a couple of paving stones so the roots can get further into the ground. There might even be room to squeeze a cutting in, or something totally different!

I'm more of a veg person so my flower knowledge is quite minimal, so thanks everyone for your help!