Soaker hoses and drip irrigation systems are preferable to sprinklers because roses can better resist disease when their foliage remains dry. Mulches can also reduce the need for supplemental watering. The heavy pruning required by Hybrid Teas is not appropriate for old roses. Pruning can be done in February in the South, and should focus on the removal of dead canes and thinning of crowded growth. The shrubs can also be lightly shaped as desired.
All plants benefit from fertilization and old roses are no exception.
They can get by with one application of a balanced fertilizer in the spring, though monthly applications from spring to early fall may result in a heavier flush of bloom. Take cuttings from the tip of a stem that has recently bloomed. Using a sharp pruning tool, take cuttings that are six to eight inches long. Remove withered flowers and the leaves on the bottom half of the cutting. Rooting hormones such as Rootone increase the chances of success, but are not necessary.