Roses need good drainage – roots should never sit in water. The best way to water is the drip method. Soak the bed slowly and thoroughly to a depth of 10"-12" with a small flow of water. Deep water encourages deep rooting and increased drought tolerance. Watering roses deeply every three to five days is preferable to shallow daily watering. Sprinklers are fine as long as the bed receives enough water to moisten the top 6" of soil. If you water from above, do so in the early morning so the foliage has time to dry. This will discourage disease.

To see if your roses need watering, scrape the surface of the bed. If you don’t feel any moisture an inch below the surface, it’s time to water.

Containers: Be sure there are drainage holes in your container. During the season, watering two to three times a week should be enough. However, if you feel no moisture an inch below the soil surface, it’s time to water.

Misting

After planting, be sure to keep canes and roots from drying out. Use overhead sprinklers or a spray nozzle until foliage growth begins.