The Best Place to Plant Roses in Your Garden

Roses have a reputation for being divas of the garden, but their stunning blooms are well worth the effort for these timeless beauties. And with newer, more hardy varieties of roses available, a lush rose garden is not as difficult as you might expect.

“Roses are one of the easiest ways to add long-lasting color to the garden,” says Megan McConnell, horticulturist and plant information director at Monrovia. “Thanks to modern breeding, roses are as easy to grow as any other flowering shrub.”

Finding the best place to plant roses in your garden will give you brilliant blooms that last a long time. Here, gardening experts offer their best tips for planning a stunning, rose-filled garden.

Consider the Type of Rose You’re Planting

Before you plant your roses, find a location that meets their needs while also fitting in with your garden design. Consider how many blooms you’d like to add to your landscape, and what placement will give them full sunshine while showcasing their beauty.

“Ground cover, or shorter growing roses, are great for the front borders or to ramble through the garden,” McConnell explains. “Larger growing varieties make excellent statement plants and can create an excellent back-of-border backdrop. Both ground cover and larger varieties are stunning when planted together in large groups.”

If you live in a windy location, try to offer some protection from strong gusts, which can damage canes and blooms. Staking them might be required.

Pick a Mostly-Sunny Spot

Roses thrive in sunny conditions with at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. If you live in an especially hot zone with intense sunlight, a little midday shade will help your roses stay healthy. “Your roses will love having six hours of morning sun daily if possible,” says Anastasia Borisevich, plant expert at Plantum, an app that helps identify plants and improve plant care. “Let them bathe in the light until the afternoon when the heat becomes too intense.”

While roses flourish with full sunshine in cool and temperate climates, if you live in a southern state, they’ll grow best with a period of shade midday. “Rose care depends heavily on your local climate,” explains Tyler Francis, lead farmer, co-CEO, and founding member at April & Ashley. “In cooler regions, roses thrive best in full sun throughout the day. In hotter climates—like the Sunbelt or Arizona—aim for morning and late afternoon sun, avoiding the intense midday heat when possible.”

Make Sure the Soil is Well-Draining

To give your roses the best growing conditions, plant them in well-draining, loamy soil. “Roses are best suited for sandy, loamy soil,” says Borisevich. “It will be even better if the soil contains some half-wet, half-dry humus.” Do not plant roses in soil that was previously used to grow roses, as it can cause your new plants to struggle and even die. 

“Good drainage is key,” Francis adds. “Roses are perennials, and do not tolerate standing water.” While often recommended for drainage, try to avoid placing rocks around the base of the plant, as they retain heat and can damage the root system. Roses generally grow best in soil that’s slightly acidic to neutral, with a pH between 6.5 and 7.0, and consider amending it with composted manure or other organic matter to improve soil structure and fertility

Space Out Your Roses

The exact amount of space your roses need depends on their variety and your landscape design. Planting them far enough apart to allow air circulation will help keep mildew and fungal diseases like black spot at bay. Also, keep your roses spaced out from other plants so they don’t have to compete for soil nutrients. 

“When planting rose bushes, allow about 1.5 to 2 feet between each plant to ensure proper airflow and growth,” Francis says. Check your individual seed packet for your rose variety’s space requirements. Miniature roses need less space, while climbing roses and some hybrids require additional space. 

Try Growing Roses in Containers

Roses can grow well in containers, making them an attractive addition to your garden that you can move around depending on the seasons and your landscape design. Francis recommends using 15-gallon containers or larger to accommodate their root systems.

“One of the most underused ways to grow roses is in containers,” McConnell says. “Roses are outstanding container plants for so many reasons. Just one plant can fill a container, making it easy to add a pop of color to any space.”

McConnell adds that planting in a container creates the opportunity for perfect growing conditions, which means there are no limits to where roses can be placed in the landscape. If there is not enough light or space in the garden, pots can be positioned in a sunny location, just about anywhere.