Where To Plant Your Rose:
Roses are particularly easy tow grow, tolerating hot and cold climates equally well. They bloom for 6-9 months annually and can live upwards of 100 years. All roses require an open sunny and well drained position to do their best. Although shaded areas will grow roses well, the quantity of flowers will diminish with the percentage of shade.

The absolute minimum sun required is 5 hours per day. Shaded parts of the garden are more liable to attacks from fungus diseases as the plants remain wet for too long a period after rains or dewy nights. Roses are at home in even the most exposed situation, however, hedges and wind breaks to protect blooms in extreme weather conditions are beneficial. Do not provide too much dense shelter in the form of hedges and fences, etc., as some draught is desirable to allow for movement of air to help combat mildew, but more importantly, to break up the heat concentrated at ground level in hot weather. Protection from wind is essential for good blooms but remember to allow for movement of air. To control "Black Spot" or \\'Powdery Mildew", "Triforine" spray should be used as a preventative spray at 3-4 week intervals starting with leaf appearance.

Soils:
Roses are very adaptable to many soil types with some help from the gardener. The best soils are medium to heavy loam with a good clay subsoil. Lighter sandy soil has less ability to retain moisture and nutrients and require plenty of compost and old animal manures, with a high humus content. If this is replaced consistently roses will provide many years of satisfaction. Heavy clay soils need building up with humus and well rotted animal manure. Mulching is advisable with all soil types as it eliminates many problems. It means less watering and weeding and also retains better average soil temperature. Most mulches of animal or vegetable matter do not absorb excessive heat on the hottest of days, resulting in better roses.

Suggested mulches, applied to a depth of 8 to 10 cm:
pea straw, lucerne hay (second cut, not too many weeds), oaten straw, pine bark, leaf mould, aged horse, cow and sheep manure, light stones and screenings (the latter do not provide a source of food). Being a legume crop, the Lucerne plant fixes nitrogen for it\\'s own use. As such, the nitrogen content of Lucern foliage is among the highest in non-toxic, slow release fertilisers. Lucerne hay will maintain soil fertility, but to feed plants or for peak productivity in exhibition beds, supplement the natural nutrients level with a good quality complete Rose or Citrus Food applied during spring, summer and early autumn only.

Watering:
Roses need heavy twice weekly morning soaking by either sprinkler or hose, rather than light waterings. Heavy soaking produces deeper root systems and better blooms.

Planting:
The ideal average time for planting out bare root roses in Australia is June and July, but a margin of a few weeks either side of these months is quite possible with no ill effects to the plants, depending on your climate and attention to the roses after planting. Planting out as late as October without losses are possible. Very little if any advantage is gained by early planting. If delayed til the coldest weather has passed, the plants gain by the gradual warming of the soil and avoid frost damage to young and premature shoots. Container grown plants from John\\'s World can be planted with safety at any time of the year because we utilise a specially formulated potting mix.

The proposed rose bed should be dug over many times prior to planting and brought to good tilth ready for the plants, but if the weather has been wet this may not have been possible, so the addition of light friable soil, compost and peat moss can be helpful with some planting. A bed of at least one metre wide, free of competition from grass or tree roots (annuals and bulbs are OK).

If your soils are shallow, do not dig holes too deep as this allows surplus moisture to drain into a self made sump. Raise the beds if necessary. Do not use any artificial manures at initial planting time but the addition of well rotted animal manures and bone meal, with a small amount of blood and bone, well dug in some weeks prior is beneficial. Slow release such as "Osmocote" can be good to use at planting time. Note : Plants starting to or in bloom require potash. Muriate or sulphate of potash are suitable.

Fertilising Established Roses:
You will find that roses will respond to regular dressings of fertiliser. Use pelletised poultry manure or a rose formulation, usually packaged as "Rose Manure" or a similar title, with a balance of nitrogen, potash and phosphate. Apply the main dressing when the plants are breaking dormancy and again during February to encourage the autumn flowering. Do not use too much nitrogenous manure as found in animal manures, blood and bone or urea, as this will induce strong but soft, sappy and disease-prone growth.

When your Bare-Root Plants Arrive:
Undo the parcel carefully and soak the roses for a few hours in a bucket of water or preferably with seaweed liquid added as a weak solution, as per directions on the container for the same day planting or overnight with root in water for planting the following day. DO NOT let your plants dry out. Dig a hole sufficiently large enough to take the roots which should be placed downwards and outwards over a small mound on the bottom of the hole. A hole usually about 20-25cm deep and wide is sufficient. DO NOT use fowl manure at planting time.

The graft of bud or union of all bush roses should remain approximately 5cm above soil level. Water in well. DO NOT replant into soil where roses have been dug out. Renew with fresh soil and compost.

Remember, many Old Fashioned Roses do not require pruning as modern roses do. However, do prune out any spindle wood and dead wood and shape as desired. Any major pruning of spring flowering Old Fashioned\\'s should be carried out immediately after flowering.

Planting of Container Grown Roses into your garden:
To plant container grown roses purchased from John\\'s World Rose Nursery, prepare the position as for bare root roses. Dig hole slightly wider than the pot and deep enough to plant the rose with the graft of the bush rose approximately 5cm above the soil level. Remove the pot, DO NOT disturb the roots. Place the rose in the hole. Place some soil in the hole to hold the rose in position. Pour a full bucket of water into the hole, refill the hole with soil. Water to settle the soil. Fertilise and mulch as for bare root roses.

PLANT SPACING