Question
We just relocated to TX, and for a house warming gift I received a rose bush, What is the best way to care for them here in this soil, (or should I say Silly Puddy)? Also, how should I cut them to place in a vase?
Thank you for your help

Answer
Hi Katie-

Welcome to Texas!  When you plant the rose make sure the hole is twice the size of the rootball and use a good rose soil or garden soil.  Care for the rose depends on what type of rose it is.  If it is a modern rose or hybrid tea - more care will be required.  Weekly spraying of a fungicide/insecticide will be needed.  Check out the Texas A&M website on Earthkind roses.  They are low-maintenance roses which are carefree.  In the triple digit summer you should water at least twice a week.  I prefer soaker hoses myself.  

Usually in late winter or early spring after the last frost, I like to prune my roses (sometimes I also prune very leggy roses in the summer time to encourage more bloom). On the internet you can check the historical data for your area to find out when the last frost occurs.  You want to prune out all the dead wood, and any canes that are crossing or rubbing onto other canes, and try to prune out some of the canes that criss-cross through the center to encourage more air circulation.  Better air circulation reduces fungal diseases. If you have modern roses (Hybrid Teas) you would want to prune them approximately 1ft. to 3ft. above the bud union.  This type of drastic pruning is good for winter time. For summer pruning I like to cut off 6 to 12 inches from the end of the cane if the roses have grown so much they are leggy.  This will also encourage more bloom. You would want to make a angled cut (45 degrees) about 1/4 inch above an outward facing bud. Use a sharp pruning instrument. Use wood glue on the pruned end to discourage insects from digging into the cane and making a home.
Within a 1-2 weeks you should see the buds below the cut to swell and a new set of leaves will begin to grow.
I don't recommend drastic pruning of antique roses except to prune out the dead wood, or to trim branches that are sticking out over sidewalks and hit pedestrians walking by.  Antique tea and china roses can take years to recover from severe prunings. If you have to - for antique roses only prune a few branches each year and leave the rest alone.

I like to cut roses with at least 6-8 inches of stem.  I just arrange them in a vase with water.  You can add an aspirin to the water, some say it increases the vase life. You could also buy some florist foam and put that into a wide neck vase and stick the stems into the foam in different angles and add water to the foam.  This gives a fuller effect to the arrangement.  I'm sure there are sites on the web about floral arrangement which could give you more information.

Good Luck-

Carlene