Roses thrive in full sun, at least six to eight hours a day. Morning sun is particularly important to dry the leaves and help reduce incidence of disease. Afternoon shade can be beneficial. Amend the soil with plenty of organic matter so that it is loose and drains well.

The time to plant roses is typically the spring or the fall, but this may vary depending on your location. If planting an individual plant, dig a large hole, a least 12 inches deep and 18 inches wide, so the roots can have room to spread out. Work the soil you have removed by making sure it is loose and crumbly and mix with aged manure or compost

It is tempting to cut flowers on new plants but it’s best to wait until fall to give them a chance to become well established. When cutting roses for bouquets, avoid cutting the entire stem. Instead, leave at least two, five-leaflet branches to remain on each shoot or stem. Use sharp, clean garden pruners when cutting or pruning roses, remove extra foliage, and immediately place rose stems in water.

When purchasing roses, keep track of the cultivar name. This is useful information when seeking further guidelines on best time to prune. Look for roses that are disease resistant.