If winter temperatures in your area stay above ten degrees Fahrenheit, roses should be planted when temperatures are cool and plants are dormant. (No new growth.) If you live where temperatures plunge below zero, roses should be planted no later than October 1st and are better planted in early spring after chance of frost has passed and the ground is thawed and warm.
Where?
Most varieties of roses like between six and eight hours of sunlight daily. (Check package instructions before planting.) Morning sun is best, as afternoon sun is more intense and not as filtered. Morning sun also allows dew to burn off of the leaves early in the day to prevent leaf mould and other diseases. Shrub roses require lots of space to flourish. Be sure to plant roses according to the grower’s instructions; at least three feet apart for best results. Climbers require up to six feet of space. Planting climbers closer than six feet is not recommended, as one will overtake the other.
Soil
If you can grow annuals, grass and perennials, your soil is rich in the minerals that are required to grow roses. Be sure to add fertilizer to the hole when planting. Sheep manure, compost or peat moss works best. If you are creating a rose flower garden, spread fertilizer at the rate of four pounds per hundred square feet. Check with your local nursery or garden center for recommended fertilizers to be given throughout the year, as roses require nitrogen, potash and sodium in order to flourish. Roses do well in rocky areas, as the roots don’t like to be wet and rocks provide great drainage.