Mulch, Pruning and Deadheading

Mulch
Mulching will help your roses after they are planted. Mulching is the practice of adding plant material, such as leaves, dead grass, or shredded bark on top of the soil. The plant material will eventually be broken down and pulled into the soil by soil denizens. It will become humus. Mulching also helps to retain moisture in the soil. In a natural environment, leaves fall to the ground and stay there. They act as mulch. For more information on mulching, see the linked article at Clean Air Gardening.

Pruning
You will not need to prune your roses until next season. It is best to prune just before the early spring growth appears, which is March in most areas. You can check with your local nurseries to find out what is the best time in your area.

If you are unfamiliar with pruning, it is best to watch a demonstration.
There are many articles and books that explain how to prune, but a demonstration is worth ten thousand words. Do-it-yourself television shows often give demonstrations. Nurseries and rose clubs also sometimes give demonstrations.

Once you see a demonstration, you will feel much more comfortable with the idea of pruning.

For basic tips on pruning roses, see the following link:

http://www.ars.org/explore.cfm/pruning/principles

Deadheading
If you have planted repeat-flowering roses, your rose bushes will bloom more bountifully when you remove the spent blooms. This is called deadheading.