Cultivation
Success with growing roses requires knowledge. Before you can begin to think about the details of growing roses, you must first decide where you are going to plant these beautiful flowers. This can be among your most important decisions. Your position on the globe will determine the general weather conditions and the hours of light available to you. Your particular site will also have a bearing on the garden. Sites differ in soil type, general wind exposure, overall air drainage and, depending upon the size of the site, the alignment toward the sun. Urban environments may affect a site by altering such elements as air quality and light conditions. These are site constraints that you have little control over. Within your site, however, there are often many "micro sites." Changing your plant's position within a site, you can often alter the amount and quality of sunlight, the high and low temperatures, the exposure to wind, the water drainage or the soil composition.
When you are deciding where to dig the hole, remember that roses need sunlight. The amount of sunlight will affect plant vigor, flower production and disease susceptibility. The best situation for a rose is full sun from dawn to dusk. Many gardens will not be able to provide this, but try to maximize sun exposure. Roses growing in partial shade will usually be spindly and stingy with their flowers. Roses grown in full shade will slowly die. Sunlight is also an important deterrent to fungal growth. A good dose of sun is far more effective for prevention of mildew or rust than any amount of sprays.
Soil conditions can differ drastically between micro sites. Roses are particularly sensitive to wet soils. If their roots sit in water for any length of time, the roots will die from decreased oxygen. In winter, wet soils are colder. Even though the roots have enough oxygen to survive, low temperatures in winter may spell disaster. It is essential that your site be well drained. If you must plant in a wet area, install drain tile to direct water away from the plants. Filling the bottom of a hole with gravel does not solve a drainage problem. If there is no way for the water to escape, the gravel will fill up with water and your rose will suffer as much damage as if there had been no gravel.
The texture and richness of soils will often vary dramatically, even in a fairly small area. If possible, choose an area with a deep, rich topsoil. If there is no such spot, or if your choice of site is guided by other limits, do not despair. Soil is something you can work with to improve.