I live in Aurora, near the Cherry Creek Spillway, so, rather alkaline and sandy. I only buy own root roses from High Country Roses in Arvada. The climbing roses have grown well, but the smaller bushes have died out! I should have buried the smaller bushes with soil and branches last winter. This spring and summer nothing wanted to bloom. I have Zepherine, Banchee, and Victorian Memory (all climbing) pathetic. La Reine Victoria (2) died. I have one Yves Piaget which blooms a little, but I think has thrips now. I have 3 "Ralph's Creeper" which do not bloom more than one or two flowers per season. I have Sevillana, but hardly blooms. I have one Knockout hot pink which does produce several flowers. My two new "Kiss Me Kate" climbing plants died; I assume it was just too hot. I use YumYum Mix for food. I have lots of compost from my tree leaves and tree branch chipping. I am getting ready to bury everything with llama manure.