Roses prefer a rich loamy soil that drains well. They do not like to have their root systems in soggy wet soil, but cannot be allowed to dry out either. You need a rich loamy soil which has a nice pliable, moist feel. Roses also like a lot of sun - unlike sago palms which seem to do quite well in shade.

After you dig up your sagos (I lost mine too!), you probably need to thoroughly dig the area and enrich the soil with plenty of organic matter. If your sagos have been in this place for a decade, the soil might be quite depleted of nutrients and probably needs some work.

The link below provides more details on how to prepare your beds for roses:

https://www.gardenloversclub.com/ornamental/flowers/roses/best-soil-for-roses/

Liz Stansfeld
Travis County Master Gardener