If it is a dormant bareroot rose, dig a large hole, back fill a bit with compost and a bit of bonemeal, water hole, cover rose to approximately 2 inches above the root ball. Tap down soil as to make sure there is no air around root. Water well. Mound the soil right up over the tips of the canes and once the buds begain to break, remove the soil. Do not fertilize for two months after as it could burn the new roots. Fertilize once a month but last fertilizer should be a month before the first frost so canes have time to harden off before winter. Don't forget to deadhead the spent blooms to get new blooms. If you need help with deadheading and pruning, let me know.

If it is a potted rose, dig a hole larger than the pot the rose is in. Again back fill with a bit of compost and bonemeal, water and plant rose to the same depth as in the pot. Again the root ball should be under the soil. Water well and enjoy. Again wait to fertilize. You may notice the pot already has fertilizer in it and you don't want to overdue it and burn the roots.

We have a great article in our Ezine archives written by Wendy Christie about the basics of rose gardening called A Rose Garden for Everyone / Roses 101 (Dec 2005) and another by Kim Rupert The Lazy Person's Rose Culture (May 2005) that can answer many of your questions.

Just click on Ezine on the navigation bar to the left and click on the article's title. You'll find some good reading that can guide you on your new hobby.

Smiles,
Lyn