- Plant hardiness zones in the Southern states range from Zone 7a at their northern tips to Zone 10b at the southern tip of Florida. These subtropical states offer a combination of warm humidity in summer and low temperatures in winter.
- Roses require full sun and plenty of warmth, which the South freely provides. Plant roses in wide open spaces away from the overhanging trees and shade of Southern forests. Roses may grow in shade but will not bloom or thrive the way they do in sun.
- Rose bushes and vines love warmth and thrive in the humidity of Zones 9 to 11. Although they need consistent moisture, though, roses quickly fail if they get their feet wet. Plant them in areas that get good drainage, away from the swamps that dot the Southern states. If your soil is muddy, build raised beds using quick-draining soil and compost,to get the roses up out of the water.
- Roses like quick-draining soil, organic compost, acid and potassium, which may or may not be plentiful in your area of the South. Plant roses in quick-draining soil combined with rich compost and dose them with potassium-heavy fertilizer once a month to keep them thriving.
- Roses in all areas attract certain pests and diseases and require treatment and preventive measures for these. In the South, watch for common rose pests like Japanese beetles, spider mites, aphids and ants, which all thrive on rose bushes and in warm temperatures.
- Even in the South, where summertime temperatures are over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, roses require winter protection. Winter temperatures may drop to freezing, depending on your growing zone, so it's important to prune roses in fall and mulch them with 3 to 4 inches of organic mulch until the spring thaw, to protect the roots from freezing.
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