The first decision to make when starting your rose garden is what type and color of rose would look best in your garden. There are likely three different kinds of roses available at your local nursery. These include bare root rose, container grown and pre-packaged roses. The bare root roses are normally found during late-winter through the beginning of the spring. These roses should be planted soon after the frosts have gone, and the ground becomes warm and workable. Pre-packaged roses are similar to bare root roses, but are sold in a box with saw dust around the roots to hold in some moisture. Container grown roses are normally available from early-spring through mid-summer, depending on your climate, and are often already budding or in full bloom.



The foundation for any rose garden is good soil, proper drainage and lots of sun. The planting methods for the different kinds of roses are same, whether it is bare root, pre-packaged roses or container grown roses. Before planting, trim away any dead leaves or thin and decayed shoots from your rose bush. If the rose plants have any damaged or very long roots, they should also to be trimmed. Bare root roses must be soaked in water for 10 to 12 hours, to restore the proper moisture content.

To plant your rose, dig a hole at least 2 times as deep and 2 times as wide as the root ball or container. Mix in some compost or mulch to help retain moisture and provide extra nutrients, and water the soil well. Place the roses in the hole and gently cover the roots with soil ? then water again.

Roses need more fertilizers than most plants, so they can produce those vibrant colors. You should start feeding your roses in early spring and continue until a month before the end of the growing season. However, do be careful not to over-fertilize, and water your roses after each application of fertilizer. I like to use rose fertilizer spikes, they make the job easy and feed for up to 3 full months. Rose also love water, you should give the ground a good soaking at least twice per week.

To encourage healthy growth and bigger, brighter and more frequent blooms, you'll also need to prune your roses regularly. During the growing season, this means to cut-back the blossoms once they are spent - this is known as ?dead-heading?. At the beginning and end of the growing season you'll need to prune according to your hardiness zone. For more specific guidance, visit your local nursery or websites about rose gardening on the Internet.