How to Grow and Care for Roses

In this article: 

• How to Choose Roses for Your Garden
• How to Plant Roses
• How to Water Roses
• How to Fertilize Roses
• How to Propagate Roses
• How to Control Pests
• How to Protect Roses in Winter

Roses are staple plants in gardens and landscapes, and for good reason! Newer varieties are easy to grow and drought-tolerant, and some even bloom profusely. A symbol of love and passion, rose flowers come in a variety of colors and sizes, and rose plants are available in many different growing habits, shapes and sizes. Whatever your preferences, you can find a rose that's right for your garden and your preferred level of care and maintenance. 

How to Choose the Right Roses for Your Garden

Roses are not one size fits all—there are multiple types, from shrub roses to hybrid tea roses, climbing roses and groundcover roses. The first step in growing roses is selecting the right rose plant for your yard or garden. Roses, regardless of type, grow best in full sun and well-drained soil. While there are varieties of roses that will grow in just about any plant hardiness zone, most roses do best in zones 4-9. Putting the right plant in the right place goes a long way toward growing healthy plants. So which rose is right for you?

Here are the basic types of roses and why they're a great choice:

• Shrub roses: Always popular, shrub roses are great choices for landscape beds and foundation plantings next to the house. They tend to bloom a few times during the season. There are many new options that are pest- and disease-resistant.
• Groundcover roses: Low-growing groundcover roses add a bit of color to hot, dry, sunny areas. Unlike other roses that grow upward, groundcover roses stay low and spread out, or spill over when planted in containers. They're drought-tolerant and create a beautiful cascading effect when allowed to drape over a wall or structure.
• Climbing roses: Like the name suggests, these roses can be trained to climb along arches or walls, creating a stunning feature in any garden. These rose plants are usually less cold hardy than shrub roses, so check the plant information carefully when purchasing. 
• Hybrid tea roses: The classic "bouquet" rose requires the most hands-on care. They'll reward you with gorgeous cut flowers, though. Perhaps the most popular rose, these classic beauties come in a wide range of colors. 
• Miniature Roses: Many miniature rose varieties are a favorite for container planting or creating a hedge. These plants produce smaller flowers than their full-size counterparts, but are quite hardy and tend to bloom easily, making them a great choice for beginners.

How to Plant Roses

Plant roses early in the spring season once your area has reached its spring frost-free date (typically February to early May depending on region). Most roses are drought and heat tolerant, but they need time to establish before summer and harsh conditions arrive. You can also plant roses in mid to late fall, giving plants a few weeks to establish before the first fall frost. 

Once you've selected a sunny, well-drained spot for planting, it's time to prepare the soil. The way you plant a rose depends on whether you purchase a container-grown or bare root plant. Bare root roses are dormant, young plants with pruned stems and roots without soil.

You'll also want to identify if you have a plant growing on its own roots or a grafted plant. Grafted rose plants will have swelling where the stem meets the roots, called the bud union. If you're in a colder region, plant the bud union 2-3 inches below the soil surface. Growers in warmer regions should plant the bud union 1-2 inches above the soil surface.



To plant bare root roses in-ground:

1. Remove plants from their packaging and soak their roots in a bucket of tepid water for an hour.
2. Use a measuring tape to measure the length of the roots from the tip of the roots to where the roots meet the stem.
3. Dig a hole that is twice as wide and at least as deep as the length of the roots. 
4. Mix equal parts of Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Roses (or Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Flowers) and the native soil removed from the planting hole. 
5. Using the soil mixture, build a mound in the planting hole. The height of the mound should allow the bud union to sit either 1-2 inches above the soil in warmer climates or 2-3 inches below the soil in colder climates.
6. Spread the roots evenly over the mound.
7. Fill in the hole completely with more of the soil mixture, covering the roots. Pack it firmly.
8. Water thoroughly.

To plant bare root roses in containers:

1. Remove plants from their packaging and soak their roots in a bucket of tepid water for at least an hour.
2. Use a measuring tape to measure the length of the roots from the tip of the roots to where the roots meet the stem.
3. Select a container with at least one drainage hole. The pot should be at least twice as wide as the bare roots and at least as tall as the length of the roots.
4. Using Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix, fill the container part way.
5. Place the bare root in the container positioning the bud union, if present, at the correct height above or below the soil.
6. Fill the container to 1 inch below the rim with more potting mix, covering the roots. Press lightly.
7. Water thoroughly.

To plant container roses in-ground:

1. Remove the rose plant from the pot.
2. Dig a planting hole. The hole should be twice as wide as the container, and the depth will depend on your growing region and type of rose. For roses growing on their own rootstock, the hole should be no deeper than the length of the root ball. For grafted roses, the hole should be deep enough so that the bud union is 2-3 inches below the soil surface in colder regions or 1-2 inches above the soil line in warmer climates. 
3. Place the plant in the planting hole. 
4. Mix equal parts of Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Roses (or Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Flowers) and the native soil removed from the planting hole, and fill in around the shrub. Gently firm the soil around the root ball. 
5. Water thoroughly.

To repot container roses in a decorative container:

1. Select a container that's at least twice as wide as and slightly deeper than the root ball and has a drainage hole.
2. Fill the container about 1/3 full with Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix.
3. Gently remove the rose plant from the pot and place it in the soil. The top of the root ball should sit about 1 inch below the rim of the container.
4. Fill in around the root ball with more potting mix and press lightly.
5. Water thoroughly.

How to Water Roses

Rose plant care starts with good watering practices. For the first 2 months after planting, give your rose plant a deep, thorough soaking 2-3 times per week with a hose. For the remainder of the first growing season, water whenever the top 2 inches of soil are dry. If you reach your finger into the soil and the top 2 inches are still moist, wait a few days and check again. 

When watering established in-ground roses, provide about 1 inch of water per week. Water at the base of the plant. Using a soaker hose is ideal for roses because it delivers water directly to the roots and keeps the leaves dry, which can help prevent diseases. It's also best to water in the morning, so if the leaves do get wet they have plenty of time to dry. Watch out for grayish or curling leaves; this is a sign that your rose plant needs more water. 

You can also keep moisture in the soil longer by using mulch, such as Miracle-Gro Organic® All Natural Mulch. A 3-inch layer of mulch will also help block weed seeds from sprouting. Do not apply mulch within 6 inches of the base of your rose plants. Ideally, the mulch used around roses should be completely replaced each spring to help prevent diseases.

Container roses should be watered whenever the top 2 inches of soil are dry. Give the plant enough water to thoroughly saturate the soil (usually until water comes out the drainage hole). Just like with in-ground roses, remember to water the roots only, not the stems, leaves or flowers.

How to Fertilize Roses

Roses that bloom continuously are hungry, so it's important to feed them with a plant food that's specially formulated for roses and helps replenish the nutrients they take up from the soil. Allow new rose plants to get settled in the garden or their new container and start to feed regularly 30 days after planting. Established roses should be fed starting in the early spring just as their leaves begin to grow. Stop feeding your roses in late summer or early fall to allow them to prepare for winter dormancy. 

How often you feed depends on the type of plant food. You can feed your roses every 2 weeks with Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Rose Plant Food, which lets you feed while you water. For a longer lasting solution, use Miracle-Gro® Shake 'n Feed® Rose & Bloom Plant Food, which is a continuous-release plant food that feeds for up to 3 months. When feeding plants, be sure to follow label directions. 

How to Prune Roses

Prune roses in very early spring just as they are coming out of dormancy. You can prune rose bushes to reduce the overall size, remove old, diseased or dead wood, and to promote airflow within the plant. While most roses can be cut back hard, it's best to remove no more than 1/3 to 1/2 of the overall growth in a single pruning. Wear gloves and long sleeves to protect your hands, and use loppers or hand pruners. Do not shear roses.

Some rose plants benefit from deadheading–removing faded blossoms to encourage more flowers. Stop removing faded blooms in early fall to encourage your rose bush to prepare for winter. How and when you deadhead depends on your rose plant:

• Hybrid tea roses require the most deadheading. Once a bloom is finished, cut the stem back to an outward-facing leaf with 5 leaflets as they usually form the strongest branches. Another helpful tip for hybrid tea roses: removing the buds that form below the flower bud at the top of the stem will produce a larger flower.
• Floribunda types grow beautiful clusters of rose flowers. Individual flowers should be removed as they fade, leaving the rest of the cluster to bloom. Once an entire cluster is done blooming, the stem can be pruned back further to an outward-facing leaf with 5 leaflets.
• Most rose shrubs and groundcover roses don't need deadheading since they drop their petals naturally, but it can help keep plants tidy and looking their best. Like other roses, cut stems back to a leaf with 5 leaflets.
• Old garden roses only produce one flush of flowers that lasts for several weeks each year, so deadheading won't help these roses rebloom (though you should still remove flowers once they're spent to prevent diseases).

For more on how to prune roses for overall plant health and the best visual appeal, check out our rose pruning guide.

How to Propagate Roses

Most roses can be propagated by rooting stem cuttings. This method of propagation gives you a plant with flowers like the parent and is more reliable than growing from seed (though this is certainly possible with enough patience!). To grow new plants from cuttings, follow these steps:

1. Before you take your cutting, prepare a small container by filling it with Miracle-Gro® Perlite or Miracle-Gro® Seed Starting Potting Mix. Use a pencil to make a hole in the center almost all the way to the bottom. Water the growing media thoroughly.
2. Take a cutting from your rose plant using clean, sharp shears. It should be about the width of a pencil and roughly 6 inches long. The best time to take a cutting is spring or early summer when your rose plants are actively growing. Look for new growth with new leaves—you want softwood, or flexible, green stems.
3. Snip your cutting just below a node and take off all but the top leaves. 
4. Dip your cutting in a rooting hormone. (This is optional, but can help jump start root growth for your cutting.)
5. Place your cutting in the prepared pot. You want at least one or two nodes to be buried in the soil. 
6. Place a plastic bag or cover over the container. This helps keep the growing environment moist. Don't let it get too tight and avoid letting the plastic touch the leaves as this can cause rot or fungal diseases.
7. Place your cutting in a warm spot that receives bright, indirect light. Water the soil as needed; it should be moist but not soaked (think a wrung-out sponge). You may also want to mist your cutting occasionally to keep the humidity high under the bag.
8. After about 4-6 weeks, you should see roots beginning to grow or feel resistance when you give your cutting a gentle tug. This means your cutting is ready to move to a larger pot. After transplanting, it's best to keep new plants inside until they develop stronger roots and shoots before moving them outside.

How to Control Rose Pests

Roses can be affected by a variety of fungal, bacterial and insect issues. Most of these issues are easy to treat and prevent, but serious disease or insect problems may require pesticides to fully control or eliminate the problem. You can always consult with your local cooperative extension service for the best course of treatment.

Many diseases that impact roses, including black spot and powdery mildew, are the result of overwatering or environmental conditions such as high humidity, especially at night, and poor air circulation. Make sure you give rose plants plenty of space and avoid wetting the leaves when watering. You'll also want to remove dead or diseased leaves and flowers quickly to help prevent these issues from spreading. Cleaning up your garden beds in fall also gives diseases fewer places to hide over the winter months. For serious disease problems, treat plants with a fungicide like Ortho® Insect, Mite & Disease 3-in-1 Ready-To-Use, following label directions.

Seasoned rose growers know that roses can also attract a lot of nasty pests, including aphids, thrips, Japanese beetles and rose slugs. You can pick off individual bugs or use companion planting to help deter unwanted insects, but the best way to handle an infestation is with pest control products. Treat problems with aphids, Japanese beetles and other pests with Ortho® Rose & Flower Insect Killer Ready-to-Use.

How to Protect Your Roses In Winter

Roses need a little time to prepare for winter. Stop feeding them in late summer and stop removing faded blooms in early fall. This will encourage your rose plants to slow their growth and enter the dormant stage before winter. 

After a hard frost has caused most of the leaves to fall off the plant, cover the base of your rose bushes with a 10- to 12-inch layer of well-drained compost or mulch. If you live in a particularly cold climate, you can also wrap your rose bushes in burlap or cover them with extruded-foam caps (also known as rose cones) to help protect your roses during the winter. The key is to not cover your roses too early. Wait until the temperatures stay cold.

Roses are a popular plant, for good reasons! With proper care, this plant offers stunning rewards, no matter which type you choose to plant in your garden. Let Miracle-Gro give you a hand with products designed for roses, and watch your plants—and your passion—grow.