Question
I live in zone 9a (TX Coastal Bend) and have just purchased a climbing pinkie.  My main concern is the quality of my soil.  It is very clay-like with poor drainage.  I am really not sure as how to go about preparing the soil before I plant my roses.  I don't have a large budget, but I would like to do all I can to make sure I don't kill my rose plant.  

Answer
Hi, Gabriella--add some coarse red building sand and some kind of organic matter like manure, compost or finely shredded bark to that clay--it's what I have to do here in Memphis. You want to have a mixture that is roughly 1/3 each clay, sand and organic matter. I sometimes add pearlite (that little white gravelly looking stuff) if the budget will allow also to break up the soil. Gypsum is another good additive to clay soil--it works a little more slowly, but will defintely break up that clay.

Climbing roses are generally pretty hardy and more tolerant of poorer soil conditions.  You might also consider putting the rose in a large but thin plastic pot with bagged soil, then planting pot and all.  You can put some sand or gravel in the bottom of the hole before putting the pot in to aid  drainage.

For more information, visit the American Rose Society at www.ars.org.  There are lots of friendly folks on the rose forums at GardenWeb.com, and you can always reach me here!
Margarett in Memphis