I can only weigh on the roses. They require at least six hours of sun to bloom well. You will need to see if the areas where you want to plant the roses will get at least that much sun. Morning sun until early afternoon would be best . Some roses will bloom in shade, but most prefer the sun.

Mike,

Cut one down. Then you can have a full sun garden out back, and in the front you will have some well desired shade in the heat of summer.

You can garden with gorgeous shade plants out front, you would be surprised how much light will be afforded even under your tree. Then out back, with the tree gone, you can plant as many roses and sun plants that you want. So, if you buy the home, call around for a good tree trimmer.

Hope you love your new home.

I have over 100 roses and live in upstate SC, have been a member of the rose forum for years though not as active in recent years. I agree that it is best to consult a local rose person. I do not have much problems with rose diseases, especially with the old garden roses. I do not spray chemicals. I think roses will build a tolerance to most diseases in this area (gathered this knowledge from Ashdown Roses). the modern roses tend to be more "susceptible" to disease. I can also suggest finding a local Rose Society....

I have not been as active in my yard either because of various issues, but intend on making up for lost time this year.

Thanks to you all for your comments. I really appreciate them. The home is in town in Conway, and it is really charming, but I'm mainly leaving a small yard in Myrtle Beach due to the lack of gardening space. Cutting down an old oak would not be an option in Conway--they build the streets around them in town, and I must admit I love this attitude toward these beautiful old trees!

I understand. They cut down some huge oak trees to widen a busy road from 4 lanes to 6. I would almost cry every day to see the waste.

mike, well, you better start researching shade loving plants then. Roses will not do well or bloom for you in shade. Rose need full sun, at the very least 6 hours, but they really prefer at least 8 to get a good bloom.

Yes, based on what I've learned I'm looking for a different house! Thanks to all for your insights....

I moved to the Carolinas from Oklahoma in 2000. The first thing I fell in love with was the yard full of tall trees, many of them white oaks. The trees were big enough around that you could hug them and in most spots you could touch two of them at the same time - I mean they were very close together. It took a few years for me to realize that no matter how much I spent on shade plants or fancy mulch, nothing was going to grow under that canopy of leaves. I finally broke down and had some of them cut down (sob!) which gave me just enough light to grow a veggie garden in one far corner of the yard. I had to wait until fall when the sun was lower and the leaves were starting to fall off before I could ever get a tomato to turn red. I finally figured out that the tree roots were sucking up all the moisture and nutrients while the leaves above were hogging all the light. If poison ivy won't grow there - nothing will! I sold that house and now live about 15 minutes away on a wide open lot with a forest of trees along its northern edge = perfect for gardening.

trianglejohn, I appreciate the feedback. I have another house I really like which is somewhat out of town and has a massive yard with lots of room to do whatever I wish. So it's the best choice for me right now.