How to Make a Rose Bed

Check the location to ensure that it provides good drainage. Dig a hole with a shovel that is about 1 foot deep in the center of the chosen location and top it off with water. Allow the hole one hour to drain the water. Raise the bed or choose an alternate location if the water fails to drain within the one hour period.

Remove all vegetation from the planting area, including weeds and grass. Dig up the planting location with a shovel and break up clumps or hardened areas of soil. Dig down about 2 to 3 feet, even if you intend to raise the bed. Incorporate equal amounts of sand and organic material into the loosened ground to improve the soil’s drainage and nutrient levels. Add several layers of your mixture to raise the bed approximately 2 to 3 additional inches, if a raised bed is necessary or desired. Be generous with the soil as it will settle during the winter months.

Line the perimeter of the prepared soil bed with the bordering material of your choice. Choose material such as wood, brick or fencing that can be firmly affixed to its location in order to prevent shifting and movement from harsh weather elements.

Dig a hole halfway down into the bed with a shovel. Take a sample from the hole’s deepest location. Test the sample with your soil sample kit following the kit's instructions to ensure accurate results.

Adjust the soil’s pH level, if necessary, to place the level between 5.5 and 6.0, according to North Carolina State University. Speak with your local horticultural specialist for assistance in correcting the pH level.