How to Dig a Hole for Transplanting Rosebushes

There's nothing more beautiful and fragrant than a rose garden. However, like anything worthwhile, roses need work and time spent on them in order for them to thrive. Read on for instructions on how to go about transplanting your rosebushes.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Shovel
• Potting soil
• Organic hummus
• Bone-meal
• Water

1. Transplanting should be done either in the fall or late winter before the roses begin to bud. Pick an overcast day or early evening to do your transplanting. Decide where you would like to transplant your rosebushes and prepare the site for your new rose garden. Begin by digging a deep hole larger than you think you'll need to accommodate your rosebush's root-ball, which may be quite large.

2. Mix together potting soil, 1/2 lb. of bone-meal and some organic hummus and line the hole that you dug. Fill the hole halfway up with water and leave it to soak into the dirt. At this point, dig up your first rosebush that needs to be transplanted, being careful not to damage too much of its root system. If the root-ball is too tangled, trim with scissors and place the it into the hole. Back-fill around the root-ball with the extra soil mixture and tamp down the edges, making sure there are no air-pockets in the soil.

3. Water your transplanted rosebushes immediately and cover the soil that surrounds them with organic mulch such as straw or bark chips. When you see them bud-out, all your work has paid off and the transplant has accepted its new home. Enjoy your new rose garden!

Tips & Warnings

• Careful handling will prevent your transplants' stalks from being damaged and leaving them prone to fungal disease.