Planting

I wish I had met the man who said, "I'd rather plant a two-bit rose in a four-bit hole than a four-bit rose in a two-bit hole."  He was a smart cookie:  no matter what the quality of a rosebush, it can only live up to the hole in which it's planted.  But before you dig and prepare the almighty hole, choose the site carefully.

Basic Site Requirements

Roses must have sun.  According to most experts, the minimum is five hours per day.  If the climate is temperate, full sunlight is preferable.  In areas of intense heat, shading will be necessary, as roses suffer from temperatures over 100 degrees F.  If you must choose between morning or afternoon sun, go for morning sun with shade in the afternoon.

Look for shelter from the wind; it damages both blooms and foliage.  Plant near, but not against, fences and garden wall.

Don't plant roses near trees or large bushes where they will have to compete with other root systems.  Rosebushes are voracious feeders and don't like sharing their nutrients with neighbors.

Since roses are always thirsty, choose growing sites in reasonable proximity to water sources.

Drainage is just as important as water.  Although rose roots require steady amounts of water, they don't like to sit in it.  Root damage occurs when water can't drain quickly and thoroughly.  An easy way to determine if drainage is adequate is to fill a hole with water and see how long it takes to drain.  If more than an hour is required, drainage must be improved by digging holes six inches deeper than you otherwise might have and filling them with six inches of coarse gravel.

The more claylike your soil is, the more concerned you must be with creating good drainage.  Sandy soils drain well inherently.  In fact, they may even require additives such as peat moss to provide water retention.  

Space planting holes far enough apart to allow for both bush and root growth.  I plant all hybrid teas and grandifloras three feet apart.  Floribundas known to be diminutive in their growth habits can be planted closer together, as can any variety with which you want to create an impenetrable hedge (cheaper than most fences).