Where to plant? Roses thrive in bright open sunny position. They enjoy the company of herbaceous plants, bedders, bulbs and small shrubs. They are also happy on their own. They do not enjoy the close company of trees, large shrubs and hungry hedges.
Soil: Roses do best in a fertile, well prepared soil (‘Fertile’ means the liberal addition of garden compost, leaf mould, chopped up grass turves, old manure, spent potting compost or a mixture during digging). Roses do best in a soil, which is slightly acid (PH 5.6 – 6.5). If in doubt, buy yourself a do-it-yourself soil testing kit. To reduce acidity in very acid soils apply lime to the soil surface in winter.
Planting: Roses like a bit of coddling at planting time. Choose a day when the soil is moist, but not soppy. Dig a hole about 37x37cms (15x15ins) and about 30cms (12ins) deep. Fork over the bottom of the hole. Part fill the hole with crumbly soil and a planting ‘mix’ (see definition of fertile above). Add and mix in a handful of bone meal. Plant your rose. Spread out the roots (most likely they will be found to lie in one direction). Cover the roots with more planting ‘mix’. Add a further handful of bone meal. Complete filling in the hole. Lightly firm. Make sure when planting is complete that the union between the shoots and the roots is just below soil level. (The union is the ‘knobbly’ part where the shoots emerge above the roots).
The Rose Society of Northern Ireland 