Question
CAN I PLANT IT IN A 1/2 SIZE WHISKEY BARREL TYPE PLANTER?
I LIVE IN VILLA PARK, IL....WILL IT SURVIVE THE WINTER?  I HAVE THE PLANTER ON MY DECK.
HAVE SEVERAL K-O ROSE PLANTS IN MY YARD....LOVE THEM.  THOUGHT IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE ONE ON MY DECK, JUST OUTSIDE MY KITCHEN TABLE...SO I COULD ENJOY IT FROM THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT.
THANK YOU.

Answer
Knock Out roses will do okay in your area. The problem is when you plant a rose bush in a container, it sits up high and gets more cold winds than if it was at ground level.I would make sure it is protected for the winter. Take some mulch type material such as bark mulch, and pile it up on the rose in the barrel. Do this when you know the winter weather has started and will continue because you don't want to make a greenhouse. What this does it make sure if the winter winds are nasty, the rose will be protected and not dieback. Then in the spring when the other Knock Outs are starting to leaf out, for week, slowly take the mulch off so as not to shock the rose. Use a tablespoon of Osmocote 14-14-14 slow release fertilizer and that will be all that is needed for the whole year.