Hi PDubATX! I grow a lot of roses of all kinds in full sun containers that are anywhere from 7 1/2 gal. and up. In my conditions with thin soil over caliche they are easier to keep watered in a container that holds the moisture in although roses like Martha, Knock-out and old garden roses such as teas and Chinas are the most likely to grow well in the ground. I do grow those types of roses in slightly built up beds. It's the David Austin roses and a few others that benefit from the moister environment that pot culture provides.

I drill several very large holes in the bottom of the pots that are used for roses for two reasons. (An attachment on the drill that's made for drilling door knobs is used.) One reason is so the soil is well drained because if water stands in the pots for more than a couple of days the roots drown and the other is so the roots can go out the bottom into the soil instead of going around and around in the pot.

However, in last years extreme heat in Aug. Sept. I put up beach umbrellas and sheets on poles to shade them. I've never had to do that before.

Also the pots are well mulched so I can water them quickly with a full blast of the hose without the soil spashing out (also it keeps water from evaporating as quickly) and a moisture meter is used to gauge when they need water.

For soil I use Miracle-Gro lightened with a little extra pearlite. Organic fertilizer is used.

It works for me!