Step 1
Make sure the spot has plenty of sunlight.
Roses need 6 hours of sunlight a day. If at all possible you should make sure that the bushes get morning sunlight instead of afternoon sunlight, since morning sunlight dries dew more quickly and can help prevent disease. Watch the light patterns in your yard before planting rose bushes to be sure that they will get the proper amount and the best kind of light.
Step 2
Prepare the soil before you plant the roses. Rose bushes are hardy plants, but by giving them a little boost when you first place them in the ground, you are setting the stage for vibrant, healthy bushes and blooms. Cover the bottom of the hole that you are planting the rose bush in with a layer of hair collected from your household hairbrushes, then add a layer of peat moss or compost. This will give the newly moved plant an extra advantage as it begins its new life in your yard.
Step 3
Prune at the proper time. Roses should not be pruned when the nights are still cold. If a rose bush will be exposed to freezing temperatures at any point in the day or night, resist pruning until the weather is more temperate. A good indication that it is okay to think about pruning is when you start to see new growth appear on the bush. When this happens, as soon as the weather is warm enough you can get rid of the dead wood to make room for the new blooms.
Step 4
Prune outward facing buds at a 45-degree angle. This will help the bush heal and also gives it a fuller appearance as more blooms and shoots move in to take the pruned buds place. Never cut further back more than 1/4 inch above the bud and always leave at least two healthy, five-leaflet leaves on the stem to help the plant stay strong.
Step 5
Thin your roses regularly. By removing dead or dying blooms and shoots that appear to be sickly, you allow the bush to grow at a faster, healthier rate.
