How to Design a Rose Bed

Select a site for the rose bed that receives six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily, preferably to the southeast of the garden, that has good drainage. Roses love the sun and thrive in direct sunlight. Morning sunlight is also essential to dry off any dew from the leaves of your rose plants, preventing fungal diseases and mold.

Roses thrive in well-drained soil, where water does not stand at the roots but goes down into the soil. If the site is particularly muddy or accumulates water, you can either build a raised rose bed with edging, or create a mound of garden soil and plant roses into it.

Dig a trench for the rose bed depending on the size of your garden. Ideally, it should be about 5 feet long and 2 to 3 feet wide to allow for a narrow bed. However, make it the required length and width by digging the soil with a shovel or spade to loosen it and remove 1 to 2 inches in a wheelbarrow to dispose of later.

Decide the types of roses you want to grow. Play around with different colors to create an interesting rose bed. Plant sections of similar colored roses, or plant them randomly for a varied show.

Amend the soil if it is too sandy or has clay. Your roses will never bloom to their fullest, thus jeopardizing the beauty of the rose bed and ultimately the rose garden. Clay soil accumulates water after rain and cannot absorb it fully when it is dry, and sandy soil cannot hold water easily and may cause the roses to dry out. Add a layer of compost or manure over the soil that is 1 to 2 inches thick.

Test the pH level of the soil by sending a sample to your local garden center in a glass container or zipper bag. The ideal pH is between 5.9 and 6.8, but it may vary, depending on your climate. You can add sulfur or lime to the soil if it fails to fall between the ideal pH.