Information on Transplanting Roses

Pick a time during the dormancy period of a rose bush to move it from one site to another.

The task of transplanting rose bushes should be undertaken only when the bush is dormant. Rose bushes enter dormancy in fall and to not emerge until after early spring. Fall and winter, however, are widely considered the best time for transplanting.

Preparation

Choose three or four healthy canes to save, and cut back the remaining canes to a point just above the bud union, which is the swollen area above the crown. Cut back the saved canes to a height of 12 to 18 inches. Begin digging the hole at the new site before digging up the shrub so that the hole only needs the depth and width adjusted once you have the shrub out of the ground.

Removal

Dig up the rose bush with as large a clump of soil as you can handle. Prune away broken or damaged roots. Take care not to injure the bud union when moving the rose bush.

Replanting

Set the shrub in the new hole at the same depth as it grew in the original hole. Make a mixture of soil and compost, add a handful of superphosphate, and fill the whole halfway with the mixture. Fill the rest of the hole with water and wait until it is absorbed before filling the hole to the soil level. Gently firm the soil. Newly transplanted roses benefit from a layer of mulch, which helps the soil hold moisture, prevents weeds and insulates the roots against temperature extremes.

References

• Fine Gardening: Transplanting Rose Bushes
• Purdue University Cooperative Extension: Roses