How To Properly Transplant Roses
Last updated by Annie on: Saturday, Mar 6th 2010
Hi, . Does the thought of transplanting roses sound too difficult? Well, yes there is a little more to it than simply pulling your roses out of the soil but with a little bit of know-how, transplanting your roses can be done without too much bother.
Perhaps you’re wondering why you would want to transplant your roses in the first place. Well, there could be several reasons. You might need to find another spot in your garden that will provide your roses with more sunlight. Or you could just want a change and reorganize your garden. But the bottom line is, make sure you know and follow some simple guidelines and your rose transplanting should be fine.
Once you have decided that you are going to transplant your roses you need to prepare the soil where you are going to move them to. A top tip to a successful rose transplant is water. Should the plant remain out of the ground for any length of time you need to ensure that the roots do not loose too much moisture. Roots that are allowed to dry out are no good. Therefore try to keep them out of direct sunlight and if necessary keep the roots moist. If you have planned ahead or you are happy to wait until the following day to move them, give the plants a good water and wait. Well watered roots handle the transplant far better.
When you dig up the rose plant try to ensure you get as much of the plant’s root ball as possible. Because the roots of the rose plant can grow quite deep, no matter how well watered the roots are, there is still a good chance that the odd root will still be lost. Roots can extend into the soil beyond where an adequate amount of soil can be removed however, allowing the remainder of the plant to absorb sufficient water does provide the plant with a far better likelihood of surviving the transplant.
Before you place the plant into the new hole simply sprinkle in approximately one cup of done meal. Then allow the rose plant to rest slightly higher than it originally did. This is because you want the plant to gentle settle into the new hole. As a general guide, place the bud union about 2 inches above the soil. Then after the plant has settled and been watered you should press down to try to remove any air pockets that might have been caught.
Pruning healthy growth from the top of the plant to try to ensure it survives is unnecessary, try not to be tempted as it can only hamper the plants growth. If however, the transplanted plant starts to show signs of wilting, this is a sure sign that it is struggling to support the upper parts of the plant. Firstly apply more water and should those wilted parts not respond, then and only then, should you prune them.
The timing, in other words, when you should transplant your roses is another issue. The majority of rosarians will tell you not to transplant during the growing season. The reasons for this are, once you know, quite obvious. Firstly, the transplant is far easier whilst the plant is dormant. This reduces the risk of the rose plant suffering from the upheaval of the move. Secondly, if you wait until you have performed your deadheading or pruning, the plant will be a lot smaller in size and easier to handle and move.
As you can see, once you know the do’s and don’ts of transplanting roses it can be a fairly easy procedure to carry out and one that you certainly shouldn’t be too scared to tackle. A lot of rose growers will claim transplanting is a difficult undertaking that should only be tackled by the professionals. I’ve always said you don’t know until you try. You never know, you might find it easier than you think.
Take care for now and enjoy your roses
Annie
