Rose 'Zephirine Drouhin'

Soil: Roses thrive in rich, well-drained soil. While they're not terribly picky about pH, neutral to slightly acidic conditions are best. Once they are established, most roses can tolerate some dryness; however, if they become stressed, flowering will decrease or even stop.  
Light: Roses need at least six hours of bright sun each day. This encourages the best flower production while also aiding in disease resistance.
Water: For best results, roses should get about an inch of water each week, through rainfall or irrigation. This can be difficult to gauge, but overall, if you avoid keeping plants too wet or too dry, they'll be fine. When watering roses, whether by hand or with an irrigation system, avoid wetting the foliage, which encourages leaf spot diseases and powdery mildew.
Spacing: 3-5 feet, minimum
Fertilizing: roses benefit from high levels of nutrients, increasing flowering as a result. We recommend a granular rose fertilizer applied in early spring, just as the ground begins to thaw (or in frost-free climates, as it becomes workable). If you wish, you can make additional applications in late spring and early summer, but do not fertilize after mid/late July.
Winterizing: In both warm and cold climates, a 2-3" layer of mulch is recommended year-round, and especially in winter. In cold climates, wait til spring to prune; warmer areas may prune in autumn if desired.
Maintenance & pruning: We do recommend yearly pruning of roses, as this encourages thick, vigorous growth and the best flower coverage. Aim to cut back to just above a large, vigorous bud - the bigger the bud you cut back to, the thicker and more vigorous the growth will be. Remove any spindly stems entirely. If roses show signs of leaf spot, remove affected portions. Most roses we offer do not require deadheading (removal of spent flowers) but you may do so if you wish.