Transplanting Your Rose

Transplanting roses only requires good timing and following some directions. Rose transplanting isn't difficult but does require proper technique as well. There are some simple ways to do it and a few things to keep in mind.

Transplanting is best done in either late fall or early spring. Dig holes for your rose bush that are strategically placed, by keeping them a fair distance away from other trees or shrubs that may try to absorb their water and nutrition. The idea behind doing a rose transplant is to keep it thriving and growing in the right direction. Dig the holes far enough apart that the roots won't battle this out, and make sure that you dig them deep enough and wide enough that there will be plenty of room for the roots to spread out.

Water the plant well the day before and be sure to cut the rose bush down by half of its length and width. This will also be a good step in pruning so that the rose doesn't grow out too wildly. Try to dig the roots from the top that way you don't destroy the roots by cutting through them. Trim any ragged ends off of the roots before planting. Once you have the rose securely in its spot put some mulch around the base roots or the roots at the bottom of the plant. This way, the new roots can establish their own platform once they start to spread out. This will also keep them from drying out so that each set of roots can absorb water for themselves.

Transplanting the rose bush means that the plant will get just a little bit of shock, so as soon as the rose has been planted in its new location, then you will need to water it adequately. Plenty of water is key with your rose plant as they need an inch per week, but when you first get started you will need to water it as least once a day to keep the roots from drying out. A series of small steps in watering, then mulching then watering again will help the roots settle into the ground to start holding onto the new earth they are in. This will help your plants become well established.

Generally roses that are transplanted may appear to be wilting, but even if they do this doesn't mean it's over for your rose bush. Continuing to water them is the best thing, and not much else is needed until later on. Don't add anymore fertilizer just yet, because you want the roots to continue to grow without disturbance. If your top level of roots overgrows then that can make the canes weak and they will start drooping horribly. Taking care of your transplanted rose is all about balance, so providing even amount of fertilizer and then water will aid in a vibrant rose bush.

It is best to not move your rose bush while it is growing now in the new location. Let's say you just got a rose plant and you plant it, but you need to transplant it while it's growing, you can move it but it's best to trim all the leaves off to put it in a state of dormancy. This is almost like a severe case of pruning, but putting your rose bush into a state of dormancy prior to the transplant will keep it from being shocked.