Five to Six Hours of Sun

Roses need five to six hours of sun, with some morning sun if possible. Most roses won't grow and bloom in dense shade. There are a few spring-blooming ramblers that will do well with winter sun and summer shade.

Good Soil and Drainage

Young roses will quickly establish themselves with well drained soil high in humus or organic matter. A pH of 6.5-6.8 is perfect for most roses. In most situations you can grow healthy vigorous plants by mixing one third sand and one third organic matter such as pine bark mulch soil medium with your existing soil. Roses need well-drained soil.

In the south or other areas where the soil is gray clay I suggest raising the planting beds above the base level of the clay. Don't dig out the soil and fill in. It will only act like a dense clay bowl and you will not have adequate drainage. A good test in regard to the drainage capabilities of your soil is to dig a hole and fill it with water and observe how long the water takes to drain. Gardeners in areas with normal well drained soil should prepare the planting area according to their local standards.

Rose Food - Fertilizer

The soil test will tell you if your soil needs any special amendments. It is possible to overfertilize plants and soil. You may prefer the convenience of slow release rose fertilizers. Spring and late summer or fall feeding is highly beneficial.

Begin fertilizing two weeks prior to the last expected frost and refrain from fertilizing six weeks before the first expected frost date in the fall. Your county agent or local rose society usually has suggested dates and other information specific to your area.

Alfalfa (meal or pellets) at planting and once to twice yearly helps the growth and vigor of roses. One cup of alfalfa the first year at planting and then a cup in the middle of your growing season is very beneficial. Liquid fertilizers are also added treats to your roses.

Consistent Care

Regular weekly soakings in the summer and mulching in the spring and fall with leaves or other organic matter helps to retain moisture, eliminate weeds and keep the roots cool in summer and warm in winter. Newly planted raised areas may need more frequent soakings.

Pruning

All roses are not pruned the same way or at the same time. Pruning is done mainly to shape and remove any dead-looking wood. This is usually needed after the first full year of growth. Do not prune Old Garden Roses like modern roses by drastically cutting back growth.

Once-flowering varieties should be pruned only after the bloom period unless they need to be thinned or shaped early in the season.

After the third year trim one-third of the growth, preferably the older wood away from the plant. Take canes from the base if possible, to maintain a nice shape to your plant instead of a "chopped off" look. Trim tall shrubs down about one third to keep them from growing too tall where wind may topple them.

Spent blossoms may be cut back (dead headed) just above a five-lobed leaflet to encourage flowering at any season. Most roses produce rose hips, the fruit of a rose which contains the seed, and can range in size from a little bead to a big berry-size, and in color from yellow to red. If you want the hips for fall color leave late summer or fall flowers on the plant even after the petals fall. You will notice little "nodes" on the stem where the leaflet comes from. If you trim just below that point the new growth will come out there and grow in the same direction the node is pointing. This is how you determine the shape of a rose.

Pruning is really more simple than it sounds. Don't be afraid to make a mistake. New growth will come and you can learn from your experience.

Container Rose Gardening

Many roses can be easily grown outside in containers of three gallons or larger. The key is good soil, adequate drainage, sun and regular watering. Containerized plants need to be watered more often in the summer. Don't let them sit in a tray of water. Unless you have a very sunny inside situation or greenhouse I don't recommend roses for inside. Should temperatures fall below 28 degrees(Farenheit) however, you should protect container roses by covering or moving inside.