How and When to Transplant Roses in Mid-Season

Many rose gardeners want to know how to transplant roses late in the season. Transplanting roses, in this case, means digging up and relocating established roses.

The short answer is that moving roses once they have come out of dormancy is not a good idea. When transplanting, the gardener must sever multiple roots. In doing so, root tips, root hairs and micorrhizal fungi are destroyed. These assist the plant in the uptake of nutrients and moisture.

Consequently, soon after the relocation, leaves droop, bloom stems sag, and the gardener will possibly lose the rose. If given a choice, start a new shrub in the new location. When this is not an option, moving the rose is best done while it is in dormancy - while the rose has defoliated during its winter rest period, before the onset of bud break.

How to Dig Up and Transplant Roses

Here is a series of techniques to try if you must relocate a rose during its growing season. First, if timing permits, root prune the rose using a sharpshooter spade. This is best done 3 to 4 months prior to the move.

Drive the spade into the ground in a circular pattern around the rose's bud union or root crown. The size of this circle depends on the size of the shrub. As a rule of thumb, allow 9 in. (23 cm) for each inch (2.5 cm) of cane diameter. In other words, if you have three 1-inch canes, allow a root ball 27 in. (69 cm) in diameter. Root pruning permits the rose to begin developing more roots within the area to be relocated, and should be done monthly prior to transplanting.

On the day of transplanting, dig up the rose by digging a hole slightly larger in diameter than the root ball. The roots not severed during root pruning must be severed using loppers or a large pruner. Carefully lift the root ball keeping the soil intact. Wrap the soil ball in heavy burlap, load it onto a dolly or wheelbarrow, and plant in the new location. Add soil around the soil ball until the area is filled.

Water in thoroughly, ensuring no air pockets remain. Prune back the relocated rose at least 50 percent (more pruning is better than less). Seal large cuts with white glue (like Elmer's Glue All) to prevent pest borer attacks and stem "bleeding." If pruning back will completely defoliate the rose, spray an antidessicant/antitranspirant (like Cloud Cover or WiltPruf) on the canes to help prevent sun scald and desiccation.

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