cuttings

Planning

Before buying roses you should survey the area where you will be planting them. Most roses require 6-8 hours of direct sun and can withstand full sun in our planting region. Next, pick roses that are disease resistant. Buy roses from a reputable nursery, check the labels on the roses you are planning to purchase or go to http://www.helpmefind.com/rose. Help Me Find lists thousands of roses with information about each.

See if you can find an in-ground example of the rose(s) that you have selected. We are blessed with two very good rose gardens in this area. The San Jose Municipal Rose Garden has mainly modern roses. The San Jose Heritage Rose Garden has old and rare roses that are, generally, harder to find.

Don't forget about size. Roses range from small to very large. You don't want to put a six foot tall and wide rose in a four foot space. Most modern roses are repeat bloomers but some only bloom in the spring. Many older roses are also once bloomers. Make sure your rose is the type you want.

Planting

If you purchase your rose(s) in January or February, they will generally come as bare root plants. After February, most nurseries pot up the plants. Bare root roses are generally less expensive than potted roses.

Much of the soil in our area is heavy clay but there are many areas of loamy soils. Check to see what kind of soil you have. This will have a direct effect on the amount of water you give your plant.