Hi,
Roses must have excellent drainage. They do better in sandy soil than they do in peaty or clay soil. You said you've got clay; you'll need to replace that soil, or build raised beds.
You live in Idaho? Check this USDA Hardiness Zone Map. Your zone will determine how hardy the roses have to be. (For example, I live in southern New Hampshire, Zone 5b. I can't depend on having any plant labeled zone 6 or higher survive the winter.)
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/pdf/gardening/hardiness/idaho.pdf
Go with "own root roses", not grafted ones. The roses in most catalogs, such as J&P, are grafted. The graft is very sensitive to cold.
Don't bother with hybrid teas, unless you want to spend time in the fall burying or "cocooning" the plants. And then there's no guarantee. Go with roses labeled "hardy."
This online catalog (in Oregon) has some examples of hardy and own root roses. You may be able to find a selection at a local nursery. They say all their roses are own root, so maybe their hybrid teas would survive.
http://www.heirloomroses.com/
Roses must have full sun for at least 6 hours a day. More is better for abundance of blooms.
I'm not a rose novice, and was a semi-serious rose enthusiast back in Houston, even a member of the rose society, but this is a different climate. This area is very hard to start bareroots roses, which is why my roses are still in the nursery, in a greenhouse. I will be putting them in a raised bed, which has some added topsoil; there is still room for a good bit more soil and amendments, and I have another 3 weeks to get the bed ready. We're zone 6 here, and so I'm not so needful of extra hardy, but it gets dry. I won't plant anything not rated zone 5, just to be safe, though. And I'm getting my plants through the best local nursery, where they have lots of talent on staff.
I am planting floribundas, not hybrid teas, though. Cherish, a Star Rose patented variety, is the one I'm really looking forward to.
The house I used to live in in Ogden once upon a time had had a lovely rosebed. But the original owner not only put in the rosebed, but also planted a walnut tree that overshadowed the garden. What a waste. I had mercy on the plants, dug them up and gave them to a friend with a sunny yard.
My current yard is sunbaked acres...great place for a rose bed.
Hi,
I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you here on the clay soil thing. I used to live in Arizona, where I had Adobe clay soil. It was well drained, however, so you're right there. Sandy soil isn't good for growing roses. Yes they need drainage, but sandy soil is way to pourous for them, because they love water, and sandy soil drains way too quickly.. Roses just don't like water standing on thier roots. Sandy soil also lacks in organic matter, which roses love.I grew 45 rose bushes in AZ, and all of them thrived. In fact They were humungous! I wish you could see my Queen Elizabeths! Some growers even recommend ADDING some clay soil to the planting holes. So if you have clay soil, it should be fine for your roses. No need to completely replace it. Just add compost, or rotted manure before planting, and be sure you have a well drained site. Clay or otherwise.