Transplanting roses

The reasons for wanting to transplant roses are numerous. It could be because you prefer to give it more sunlight or it could be that you are just changing things around a bit in your garden. But, whatever the reason, there are several things that you will need to know before you start pulling your plant out of the ground.

First things first; prepare the ground where you are planning to place your roses. The last thing you want to do is to allow the root ball to be exposed to the hot sun or loose any of its moisture. If your plant has to travel by vehicle to get to its new location, make sure that you cover the roots with a damp piece of burlap. A good tip to remember is to water your plant well the day before you plan to move it. Water is the secret of a successful transplant. The chances of transplanting a dry, wilting plant successfully are low. But, if the plant is full of water, the demands on the roots are minimized for a while after the transplant. Most likely you are going to loose some of the roots from transplanting the plant. The roots of a rose plant grow very deep into the soil past the point of a reasonable amount of soil that can be removed. But, with enough water absorbed by the rest of the plant, your roses have a greater chance of survival.

When digging the plant out, take as much of the root ball as you can handle. It is not necessary to prune healthy plant growth from the top structure in order for the plant to survive. The growth of the plant is important in the production of sugars. It only hurts the plant to cut its growth away. After the transplant if the plant starts to wilt at its tips it’s a sign that it is having trouble supporting its top structure. If this happens increase the amount that you water it and you can prune any tips that do not recover.

It’s a good idea to add about a half to a full cup of bone meal to the hole where the plant will go. You will also need to set the plant slightly higher then it was before because the plant will settle within the hole. The bud union can be about one or two inches above ground level. Once the plant is watered and has settled, you can press slightly on the plant to eliminate air pockets.

Most rose enthusiasts would agree not transplant roses in the growing season for several reasons. It is easier to transplant the roses while they are dormant because there is less of a risk of them going into shock since they are not growing. Plus, right after the annual pruning the plant will be smaller and easier to move around. But, with proper preparation and a lot of water, anyone can follow the steps listed here and anyone can have beautiful, flourishing roses after a transplant during any season.