Transplanting roses can be done for a number of reasons. A gardener may decide they do not like where the rose is planted and want to move it. The rosebush may need to be moved because it got too big or the rosebush may not be thriving in its current spot. Whatever the reason may be, certain precautions need to be made before transplanting roses.
The easiest time for transplanting roses is during the dormancy period. This is when the weather is cooler and damper, usually in the springtime. It makes digging the ground up easier, and it is less stressful on the plant.
If the ground is not wet at the time the transplanting takes place, watering the ground for several days beforehand will do the trick. It is important to add large amounts of organic matter to the receiving hole and mix it with the soil so the hole is ready for the rosebush when it is dug up. Pruning the rosebush properly is important. The rosebush should be pruned just enough to make transplanting the bush easier.
When digging the rosebush out, a hole should be dug large enough around the rosebush, extending just past its drip line. It is okay if some of the soil falls off of the shovel during the transplanting process and exposes the roots. The roots will need to be spread out in the receiving hole and set on a mound of soil.
The mound must be tall enough to hold the crown of the plant at the same level it was in the original hole. The hole should be filled with soil halfway and then filled with water the rest of the way. Once the water has drained into the soil, more soil can be filled in until the hole is full.
A ring of dirt should be created around the plant stem for protection. Watering inside the ring will hold the water on the plant. Once the water is soaked in, the ring can be filled in with more soil. Adding light amounts of rose fertilizer to the top of the soil and topping it with organic mulch will finish the transplanting process. The rosebush should then be watered weekly.
The key to successfully transplanting roses is giving it the right amount of water beforehand. Transplanting a rosebush can cause a loss of roots, and the roots are the way the plant receives its water. Having enough water inside the plant before being moved can help eliminate any problem during the transplanting process.
