Soil:
Roses need moist, slightly acidic, well-draining soil to grow vigorously throughout the season. This flowering shrub could also benefit from the addition of compost, aged manure, or leaf mold to the planting soil.
Light:
Some roses can grow in part sun, but most thrive in full sun (> 6 hours sun) environments. Check your rose cultivar to determine if it’s more shade-tolerant.
Water:
Try to keep the soil evenly moist, especially in their first growing season. Never allow the rose foliage to remain wet into the evening; water early in the day. Failure to do so could cause diseased plants.
Fertilizing:
Feed your roses with a blended fertilizer made for roses to keep the flowers coming. This can be done after each bloom cycle.
Winterizing:
Spread a layer of composted manure, compost, or shredded leaves over the base of the plant in late fall after the ground freezes. Covering these mounds and the lower parts of the bushes with evergreen boughs will add protection. Pull the mounding material away from the stem as new growth emerges in spring. Prune injured branches over when new buds emerge in spring.
Maintenance & Pruning:
Prune to remove deadwood, control or direct growth, and promote flowering. Wait until growth breaks in early spring before pruning. Every 2 or 3 years, remove about one-third of the old branches to stimulate new, fresh growth. Remove faded flowers to encourage blooming.
