Sun, good soil, and regular water are what roses need to thrive. Put them in a spot that meets these three requirements and you're well on your way to growing roses that will reward you with blooms for years to come.

Unless you're planting a variety that can tolerate light shade, choose a spot that will get at least six hours of sunshine in the growing season. The exception would be areas with extremely hot summers; in these spots, roses benefit from light afternoon shade. Look for a spot with good air circulation, which helps prevent foliar diseases, but keep roses out of areas with consistent strong winds, which can tear at the leaves.

Roses do best with average soil--neither too acidic nor too alkaline--that drains reasonably well. If your soil is very sandy or heavy clay, you'll want to amend the planting area with organic matter; for very poor soil, consider growing roses in raised beds. Regular watering keeps plants healthy and promotes blooms. Other than that, your chores will consist of fertilizing, pruning, and keeping pests and diseases under control.

Remember: Roses thorns can be nasty. Whether you're planting or caring for roses, or just cutting the blooms, you may want to use sturdy gloves and some arm protection.