Big roses were what I was looking for, I'm hoping to train the isabella skinner as a climber around my porch, and the rugrosa as either part of a hedge or a slightly shaded foundation plant. I'd love to see pictures of any of the plants I've ordered, I've looked at helpmefind, but would love personal experience.

Hey Rita, your roses look awesome. I can see how you would thoroughly enjoy looking at them:-) What a beautiful spring flush. I agree, I had a very nice spring flush too. I don't spray anymore though, so I am getting rid of my roses that need to be sprayed. It seems I want my beds for other flowers, like daylilys and flowers for hummingbirds and butterflys, and blueberrys, etc. Maybe since you didn't have all the back breaking work with moving and planting you had time to really enjoy them. Hope your doing well, Maureen

a2z, I'd suggest, for long-term soil health (and thus long-term rose health) that you apply some compost around the base of your roses once per year as a top dressing. If you use mulch, put that on top of the compost (but don't let the compost actually bank up against the rose, or, if you use it when you plant, don't mix it in with the soil around the roots, but rather put it in the bottom of the hole). Adding organic matter to the soil is helpful in many ways (helps with nutrient availability, soil structure, enriches the soil microbial community, etc). I'd also advocate a "wait and see" approach before spraying. The chemicals we spray on garden plants are no joke, and if you can avoid them, why not? Personally, I'd rather dig out a problem rose (or just deal with defoliation, as I do with Abraham Darby because I adore his blooms) than spray fungicides. There are beneficial fungi that live in the soil, and I am worried that fungicide would kill them off more effectively than it would deal with black spot! But we all have different gardening styles, so this is just my two cents.

I would soak it 24 hours or so and plant it as is. Depending on your climate, it could do well. If it is too hot already it will struggle. I would put a chair over it to shade the sprouts of new growth for a 2-4 week period until it gets going. You can trim off any edges later. Where are you State and zone?