Transplanting Roses

The reasons for transplanting roses are many and varied such as moving from one home to another, redesigning your garden, seeking a sunnier or shadier location or correcting wrongly planted bushes. 

Whatever, the reason, there are several things that you will need to know before you start transplanting your roses.

As in most cases of transplanting roses timing is of the utmost importance. The best time to transplant your rose is in the fall, winter or early spring.  When the roses are dormant it won’t be as stressful on the life of your plant. It will also be less work since you won’t have to as diligent to ensure a steady supply of water to the dormant rose.  If you live in a locale with harsh winters simply wait until the ground has thawed to relocate your rose.

You’ll want to prepare your flowerbed before moving your rose to its new location. The less time the roses are out of the ground the better. Dig up as large of a root ball as you possibly move. Using a pruning tool can be helpful to cut the roots rather than trying to chop them with a shovel.  Plastic tarp is great for moving large root balls. You can then easily sit the newly dug root balls onto the tarp and drag it to the new planting location.

Water your roses generously the day before you transplant them.  Water is essential to a successful transplant.  The less water used during this procedure;the more likely your plant will not survive the shock.  More than likely you will lose roots from transplanting the plant.  Rose plant roots grow deep into the soil.  Often this may even extend pass the amount of soil that can be easily removed. However, adding copious amounts of water, which can be absorbed by other parts of the plant will increase your plants survival. 

If despite your careful handling, the rose’s root ball falls apart during the move, don’t worry. Prepare your planting hole with a small, cone shaped mound of dirt at the bottom.  You can then spread the rose’s roots across the fresh mound of dirt. Roots generally grow horizontally rather than vertically so spread the roots out to the sides of the planting hole rather than straight down.  Ensure your rose is planted at the correct height, with the bud onion at the soil line. Now back fill your planting hole.

If done correctly transplanting a rose can easily be a success. If the rose is growing in an unsuitable location it will never develop to its full potential. However, once moved your rose will be much happier and healthier insuring many years of successful gardening to come.

The best time to transplant roses is when they are dormant - not actively growing - such as in the winter, at either the end of October or the beginning of November. Many rosarians have transplanted roses at any given time of year, though perhaps not in December or January. If you transplant in the early to mid-spring, the rose bush is still practically dormant and you therefore shock the plant less than at any other time. You also have the advantage of being able to prune correctly and inspect for obvious diseases, such as crown gall, root gall or canker. Furthermore, you will have gradually warming weather ahead of you and the growing season for regeneration of the bush.
In summary, follow these simple guidelines for transplanting your roses:

·         Select and prepare the new location including the hole and or the bed

·         Have the appropriate transport, such as a wheelbarrow or gardening dolly as well as someone to help lift the rose bush on and off if needed

·         There is little worry about overwatering the day before.  Just get as much water as possible into so as many plant cells as possible are saturated

·         Dig the rose out, while forming as big a root ball as you can handle 

·         Its okay to remove some top growth if the plant is physically to large to handle.

·         Settle your rose in its new home straight away and pour on the water

·         Hyper-water the plant until it fully regains its structure and vibrancy

·         Fertilizer is a reward for your rose, so hold off for a while

·         Clean up your transplant by removing any withered ends, dead tips or leaves

Sometimes a rose just needs to be moved.  Plan it well and enjoy the change.