The big disadvantage of outdoor sowing is that one sacrifices control over circumstances under which seeds will germinate. In an indoor hotbed, or coldframe, conditions of moisture, heat, etc., can be regulated. Not so in outdoors, where dryness or changing weather can destroy weaker seeds quickly. If an outdoor seedbed is planned, choose a spot with good soil.

Then work in a portion of your compost pile, pulverizing soil to depth of 3 inches. Adding some sand and peat moss increases effectiveness of bed. Most seed may be planted on surface, and deepest one should plant is 1/2 inch. The bed should be well-watered after seed has been broadcast over entire area. The bed can then be lightly tamped.

The other major bush types are polyanthas (roses in large clusters), fioribundas (large-flowered polyanthas), and hybrid perpetuals (vigorous growers with a great crop in June and continuous blooming throughout summer). The climbers include ramblers, whose long pliant canes have large clusters of small roses that can be used for covering walls, fences and banks. The climbers also are pillar roses, adapted to growing near buildings and on posts and climbing hybrid tree.

For planting roses a good garden loam with organic matter is important. It must contain peat moss, leaf mold, compost, rotted or commercial manure, and bed should be prepared as far ahead of planting as is feasible in order to allow for settling of soil.