Transplanting Roses… Everything You Need to Know

At some point you may be thinking about transplanting roses. You may be wanting to rearrange your rose garden and move plants around so they enjoy more sunlight. Regardless of the reason for transplanting roses, you will need to understand a few things before you commence.

First up, decide where the roses are going to go and prepare the area for them. You always want to have the area ready for the plant because you do not want the root ball to become dehydrated or exposed to the sun for too long. If you are moving your plant over a long distance where you will have to travel by car or truck, cover the root ball with a piece of damp cloth to protect it.

Some consider transplanting roses to be difficult however, if you get it right there will be no problems.

The day prior to transplanting make sure the roses are well watered. The prime ingredient in transplanting successfully is to ensure they do not dry out and if they do, the plant is less likely to survive. If the rose has plenty of water it will then have time to settle into its new spot.

It is unavoidable however to lose some roots when you transplant a plant.

Roses are well known for having deep roots in fact they generally grow deeper than most folks are prepared to dig. To ensure a successful transplant it’s best to keep the roots wet. The only trimming that’s required is the the root ball.

Pruning away the healthier parts of your roses is not necessary, it’s actually better if you don’t do it. These parts of the plant are important in manufacture sugar. If the rose starts to droop it’s a strong sign that the root ball is unable to supporp the plant. Keep the plant moist so it recovers and do away with any parts that are not likely to recover.

Prepare to Transplant Your Roses

When you prepare the new area for your rose bush, throw a cup of bone meal into the hole where your rose is going to be planted. You should always plant the rose further out of the ground than it was before so over time, through settling, it will end up at the correct height. Using the bud union as a marker, it should be 1 to 2 inches from the ground. The plant will start to settle once you water it, and at this point you can press down on the ground near the base of the plant so the soil is compacted.

Some say not to transplant roses when they are growing.

Moving roses when they’re dormant is a smart move because it improves the chances of success. Also, their normally pruned during this time so they will be easier to relocate simply because they are not as big. If you plan the move correctly and make sure they have planty of water, you should not have any problems.

So, don’t be afraid of transplanting roses, with a little planning & care success is inevitable.

Peter Bourke is a passionate rose gardening expert… discover lots more tips & tricks for transplanting roses successfully visit www.CaringForRosesSecrets.com.