Are you expecting to replace these roses with new ones? That can be problematic as often new roses have difficulties thriving in beds where roses were originally planted. The fine root systems left in the beds can affect new plantings. These roses appear to have been neglected somewhat. I would advise you to pick up a book that details proper pruning and winterizing. A Winter pruning, heavy mulching and then Spring fertilizing and systemic treatment for diseases and insects should revive them. Don't forget to remove leaves (including racking up fallen ones) to help eliminate diseases that go dormant in Winter and return in Spring.

Mr. Lincoln is a fabulous long-stem beautiful red with deep traditional rose fragrance. It is a favorite cutting rose.

Roses do require some care but once you get a schedule set up will reward you through out the Summer.

Thanks, Sharon! I will look into winter prep and a pruning guide. The plan is to locate the roses in new areas of the garden.

Mr. Lincoln sounds fantastic. I think it is sending out suckers though. I'm so looking forward to having flowers next year. Hopefully I can make them healthy.

If it were me, I would start with new healthy roses. There are so many new varieties bred for heat and disease tolerance

If I am feeding, deadheading and watering, it better be a rose that I really want and love.

Best wishes on your new place

when you want info on plant culture.. and suggestions on plants... you need to include your big city location for info pertinent to your area .... like when it the best time to move things ... in fact just include it in every post ... note that most or our names include such location ... for that reason ...

all the pictured plants are at least 2 to 3 feet too close to the house .... so if you are making future plans .. insure that you locate and plant any plant.. far enough from the house.. that is can grow to its potential.. without you having to massacre it every year ... that is probably one of the reasons you see all the dead wood on the first plant pictured .... that and the fact it wasnt well done ... regardless... that is not a reason to get rid of it ... its just how they age ...

and finally.. never forget.. foundation plantings are planted to hide the foundation ... NOT ON THE FOUNDATION ... like the prior owner did ... the highest impact foundation plantings can have.. is in a properly sized and maintained bed .... not jammed in a small bare spot 1 or 3 feet from the foundation ... imo.. this is where the impact statements starts ...

and lastly .. lol .. as compared to finally .. lol ... whether you want to give hubby the call on just getting rid of them... is probably not a hill to die on .. and can be used for leverage.. on the next thing that comes along ... lol.. its not a plant thing .... its more about winning next time ..

ken

Kristine and Ken, thanks! All very good points - including the tactical thinking :) I honestly would love to pick out new roses. We've had to hack down most of the existing plants, either overgrown or dying, and yes, right next to the foundation. It would be ideal to reuse something (so as to waste not), but perhaps these are not worth it. If we end up wanting to replace the old roses after moving them anyways, it would then be an issue of reusing my new rose beds.

Okay, so new roses then! I am in Zone 8a as well. Any suggestions for varieties and is spring still the best for planting? Below is my landscape design - the circles with "RO" are the new rose locations. We face south and it's quite sunny. We also have a tall hybrid tea that we brought with us and are planning to split and put in the ground. It has dark magenta blooms and has been living in a wine barrel the past season.

And a follow up question - should I try to give the existing roses away?

That depends. They might have a tag that says one thing, but in fact are all rootstock now. Have you seen them bloom yet?

8a is a good zone

I am 8a but very dry hot summers.

Your 8a might be in a humid location.

What colors do you love ?

What color is your house ?

a tall hybrid tea that we brought with us and are planning to split

==>> i dont know what this means.. since you dont split roses ....

also ... you drawing is confusing me..[maybe its me... lol].... but the only indication of measurements i see is an indication of 3 feet ... and you have enough plants for a 6 foot deep bed ... and what is the big arc??

how about a pic of the whole front of the house ...

i know nothing about plant culture in z8 .. . so i will stick to what you call the tactical .. i like that term ... developing a good garden.. really has nothing to do with the plants .. until you set up the rest ...

zone is simply the low predicted winter temp on the coldest day of the year ... and as khristine notes.. it tells us nothing.. it could be the PNW.. a desert ... the deep south humid.. etc .. just give us a big city name ...

you can overplant ... if you plan on developing more beds ... and plan to move excess out after a years growth ... sort of a nursery bed ...

ken

I'm in Seattle. Our yard is pretty exposed so there's plenty of sun and we'll probably have winter winds. House is beige and will likely stay a light color given the sun exposure. I had a professional landscape design drawn and love what they picked out: lots of burgundys and purples, dotted by yellows in spring and summer and orange in the fall. I love blush and mauve roses, but wonder if they will stand out against the beige siding. I'm thinking to at least keep to one shade of color for the new roses for impact. 3-ft tall ornamental grass (Purple moor grass) will be behind them.

I was going to put my dark magenta rose (Winnie Edmunds) on the right, but if I can't split it will reconsider. On the design, the ovals near and around the roses with the plus sign are daffodils. The large arc on the viewer's right is a path cutting through the yard.

Scentimental bloomed once this summer, and Mr. Lincoln has one red bud growing now. I deadheaded the other two roses but I potentially missed when/if they bloomed.