What's your question? Ask

These articles should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/fgen/deadheading-flowers.htm, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/roses/rose-deadheading.htm

This article will help avoid replant disease issues: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/planting-in-old-spaces.htm

I would rent a Turf Cutter machine from a local rental outfit. Set it to cut down a good 2 inches or more. Run that over the entire area where you want the rose/flower garden. Roll up the matting of weedy stuff and haul it away. Then rent a heavy duty rear tines tiller. Till the soil up going one direction. Rake through it with a hard toothed rake and remove as many roots as you possibly can. Then I would dump several bags of good compost all over the area to a 2- to 3-inch depth. Till the area again going both directions. Water the area well and let sit for about 5 days. Lightly till the area one more time and you are ready to plant.

If you haven't read it, this article may help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/keeping-ants-of-flowering-vines-vegetables-and-flowers.htm Also, you may want to check your plants for pests, such as aphids. They can leave behind a sticky residue, called honeydew, which ants are attracted to. Taking care of the pests responsible will normally take care of the ants. Oftentimes, neem oil will help treat ant pest problems and is perfectly safe for use. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/problems/pests/neem-oil-uses.htm

I have used just about every mulch available for my rosebushes and for me here in Northern Colorado, I like gravel mulch. Not the lava rock stuff but 3/4 gravel that is either the regular light gray and off white mix or one called Colorado Rose Stone gravel. I also like the shredded mulches you can by in the bag at Home Depot or Lowes. The brown color is what I like but there is a regular color that is goldish and then the redish kind too. Here is a link to an article on this subject for you too: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/roses/best-mulch-roses.htm .

Stan The Rose Man
Consulting Rosarian
Gardening Know How

This article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/roses/rose-rust-disease.htm