How to Grow Rambler Roses

Use the shovel to dig a planting hole for the rose. The site should be close to a sturdy support such as a wall, pillar or heavy wooden fence. Choose a planting site with well-drained soil rich in organic matter that gets six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. Dig the hole a few inches deeper than the root ball or nursery container. Amend the excavated soil with the manure or peat moss to make a mixture of 25 percent amendment and 75 percent garden soil.

Make a small mound of the soil mixture in the bottom of the planting hole, and place the rose atop the mound. Check the position of the plant in the hole; the root ball should be no higher than the top of the planting hole. Add or subtract the mounded soil to raise or lower the rose.

Spread the roots out so that they are not crowded and lie naturally in the hole. Use the clippers to prune broken roots.

Fill the hole with the excavated amended soil. Water the rose thoroughly and let the soil settle and absorb the water, then add soil as needed to make the top of the planting hole level with the surrounding ground.

Spread 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch around the rose but not touching the base of the plant to discourage weeds, conserve moisture and keep the roots cooler in summer.

Keep the rambler roses well watered. Water deeply to promote a strong root system, and water at the base of the plant rather than from overhead. Wet foliage provides a breeding ground for disease.

Fertilize when the rambler rose begins to bloom. Use a fertilizer formulated for roses, and follow label directions for proper application amounts and timing. Stop fertilizing the rambler roses six weeks before first frost in winter.

Use the pruning shears or clippers to cut away dead or diseased wood in any season. In late summer, prune old wood that flowered that year to make way for new growth and flowering next season.