Planting roses

There are many do's and don'ts for planting any plant. 

These are my preferred and recommended techniques for planting. 

Into a soil bed in the garden:

Dig the soil well with rotted manure that's aged (roses aren't too fussy which type but be sure it's had time to age. A month or more is good. Compost is great. If it's heavy clay a little gypsum clay breaker. If it's too acid (roses like ph 6 to 6.5) it can be corrected with dolomite. Follow the instructions. Dig it all in. Dig your hole a little larger than the rose root system, fill the hole with water, let it drain away, fill the hole again, let it drain away. If it's bare root place the rose on a little mound in the centre and spread the roots evenly around the mound as much as possible being careful not to break the roots. If it's potted DO NOT BARE ROOT THE ROSE.  If the soil falls away so be it but do not deliberately move the soil from the plants roots. Absolute no no. As much as you can, keep the potting medium and soil intact. Place the plant in the hole so that the graft union (the part that's grafted onto the side of the rootstock or main stem of the plant) is about 2cm above the soil's surface. Back fill the hole and water. Then water, Then water. I can't emphasise enough the water. If you're in Queensland you're going to need to water until that plant is established. Don't be afraid. The roots won't rot. I grew a plant in a bucket of water for 7 months.. flowering and all to prove the point. Roses don't mind water. They do not like being too dry.  In our part of Queensland you'll find they don't go dormant as they do in colder regions. In Eumundi some will if it's cold enough. Sometimes they just go a bit scruffy with heat or cold, but they drop those leaves and soon get new ones. When they're not dormant they still need their food and water. If you've moved from a colder climate, treat your roses as an entirely different plant. They still need water in winter here. 

The ideal for a rose plant is a sunny position, doesn't have to be but they prefer NE aspect where they have sunlight in the morning through to 1 or 2pm in the afternoon, protection from wind. They love their top as dry as possible and the roots damp and cool. Mulch is good but not too close around the stem. Overhead water is fine. There are many myths about black spot and overhead watering. Myths is what they are. Most roses I've known will get blackspot more from underwatering. Black spot is a sign of stress. Look for the stress and find the problem rather than treat the symptoms with fungicides. Sometimes they're not needed and some of them are quite nasty chemicals. In Summer the roses can actually benefit from overhead water to cool them and the soil or pot. Mulch is helpful to keep the soil moist and cool. Any mulch will do within reason. Choose something the ants won't like too much and treat ants with antrid. Roses don't like them. Watch out for curl grubs who do love mulch and plant roots as well.