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Transplanting Roses

There are a variety of reasons for transplanting roses.  It could be because you prefer to give your plants more sunlight or it could be that you are just changing things around a bit in your garden.  Whatever the reason, there are a lot of things you must know before pulling the plant out of the soil.

The first thing to do in transplanting roses is to set up the soil where you would want to put the roses.  You would not want to expose the root ball to the hot sun or lose 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.

Another piece of advice in transplanting roses is to water the plant a day before removing it.  Water is the secret of a successful transplant.  The chances of transplanting a dry, wilting plant successfully are low.  But when the plant is full of water, the stress on the roots are reduced for a short time after the transplant.

Most likely you are going to lose some of the roots from transplanting roses.  Roses have roots that grow extraordinarily deep into the soil and even surpass the amount of how much soil can be removed.  But, when there is enough water absorbed by the plant, the chances of roses surviving are better.

Take as much of the root ball as you can handle when digging the plant from the soil.  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 harms the plant to trim its growth away.  After transplanting roses, if the plant starts to wilt at its tips, it’s a sign that it is having trouble supporting its top structure.  If it happens, raise the amount of water and trim any tips that do not get better.

When transplanting roses, 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 have to make sure to raise the plant a little higher than it was before due to the plant settling within the hole.  The bud union can be about one or two inches above ground level.  After the plant is watered and settled, you can then apply slight pressure on the plant to remove air pockets.

Most rose enthusiasts would agree not to transplant roses in the growing season for several reasons.  Because there are less chances of the plants going into shock when they’re not growing, transplanting roses is easier while they are dormant.  Also, after an annual pruning session, the plant will be easier and smaller 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.