The secret to healthy roses starts at planting time. Every rose can thrive when you give it the right stuff. Let us show you what roses want.
Sun. Roses are sun-loving plants and need 6 to 8 hours of sun per day. Morning sun is ideal, followed by afternoon sun. Avoid giving roses morning shade. The best shade for a rose is in the afternoon, protection from hot afternoon sun.
Protection. If your rose-growing spot is open and exposed to winds, plan to put up a windbreak. A solid fence, wall, or hedge provides sufficient protection.
Space. Roses need elbow room for air circulation (which helps prevent disease) and to allow plants to reach their natural size. Give your rose a space that’s as wide as the plant will be tall. If your rose is supposed to reach 4 to 5 feet at maturity, give it 4 to 5 feet clearance on all sides.
With a young rose, tuck a few annuals around the plant (not too close) to help fill in space while the rose grows. Choose annuals that won’t overgrow the rose—either by growing taller or by swarming up and over it.
Soil. Give roses a footing rich in organic matter. You can work homemade compost into soil, or try Coast of Maine Bumper Crop Organic Soil Builder. This soil builder has a mix of peat moss, very old dark bark, and shellfish compost, a perfect blend for improving sandy or clay soils. It gives roses the right soil mix for strong, healthy growth and a bumper crop of blooms..