I love the Knock Out roses. The best advice from a world-famous rose grower is to dig a very deep and very wide hole for your new rose. At least 2 feet deep and three feet wide - and four feed wide is even better. Amend the soil that you remove with compost or steer manure so that the soil you return to the planting hole is light but rich and drains well. Firm the soil with your hands, not your foot and form a well or depression around the roots so that water will collect. Mulch using wood chips or compost to seal in the moisture and to provide shadel. Roses are very hungry plants so fertilize several times in the summer. I work Osmocote into the soil at planting time and again each May and I also feed with a liquid plant food after each flush of blooms - usually in June and again in late July. As for your lawn,it sounds like you could have sandy soil that does not hold water. Try topdressing the lawn with half an inch of compost this spring after you aerate. Getting organic matter into your sandy soil will help it to hold moisture. Look for one of the new grass seeds that are drought resistant. Not sure what variety twould be in your area but a local garden center can provide good cousel. You may find what you need in a patented perennial ryegrass. It will cost a bit more - but the new varieties are worth the higher price. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti