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How to move a rose . Advice please.

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in Plants
Many years ago, I planted a rose next to a small acer. The acer isn't small any more and the rose is completely overshadowed but valiantly surviving.
I want to move it but there will definitely be root damage. 
I assume it will be advisable to prune it hard before I attempt to move it. 
I was thinking of putting it in a large container so that I could look after it for a while. Is this a good idea?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Don't know variety but it's a pretty peach colour and probably a shrub. Repeat flowers 
In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • TackTack Posts: 1,367
    edited February 2023
    When I moved a decades old rose that had become overshadowed by a tree I did exactly as you propose. I do wonder whether I should have bothered with the container planting because when I did put it in the ground a lot of the new white roots were torn off. Still, it worked and the rose is entirely rejuvenated.
    Edit. Mine was Mountbatten, a large yellow floribunda
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I dug 2 Gertrude Jekyll out of my front garden a few years ago - exactly the same situation as you have - by my big acer so they were in almost darkness most of the year.
    I decided I would throw them out so I just cut them right down and dug 'em up being careful not to damage the acer roots.
    I put them in  a bucket and left them on top of my row of compost bins at the end of the garden.
    About 8 months later I spotted an orange bucket that had fallen behind the bins.
    It was the roses. The bucket was 3/4 full of water and writhing with gnat larvae, but the roses had shoots on them!
    They clearly didn't want to die, I couldn't throw them away having been through so much so I gave them a chance in a border and they flowered the first year and are thriving - a bit too much.

    So don't worry too much.
    Good idea to prune it anyway at this time of year.
    Go for it!
     

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • EmptyheadtimeEmptyheadtime Posts: 366
    I moved a rose bush last year around this time. I hard pruned it then dug out as much of the rootball as I could them moved it straight into its new location in a well prepared hole, gave it a good mulching of manure after too and it seems to be ok. It grew (maybe not as vigorous as it settled in or due to the heatwave last year) and flowered pretty much as normal.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Thank you everybody. I'll definitely go for it. The soil is nice and soft at the moment.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    I've also moved a large rose with success.  Cut it hard back and dig up as much of the root system as you can and keep well watered in the first year; no need to plant in a pot first.
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Thanks @Redwing. I'm going to do the deed today. It's got a better chance of regular watering if I keep it in a pot for a while, I think
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited February 2023
    Job done.
    Clay gardeners will understand this:
    You know there are a few perfect digging days each year. You use them or lose them. This was one of them. The fork slipped without friction some way up the shaft. The soil was worthy of the fantasy soil you see in gardening programmes.
    I got the rose out quite easily but accidentally broke some thick roots.
    Unfortunately my bag of compost was beady with every kind of pest egg you could imagine.
    I've temporarily planted it in spent compost from a winter casualty instead
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Had to laugh at the soil description @B3. That's exactly it! 
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited February 2023
    B3 said:
    The fork slipped without friction some way up the shaft. The soil was worthy of the fantasy soil you see in gardening programmes.

     I didn't laugh.  But did admire your perfect prose.

     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • newbie77newbie77 Posts: 1,838
    edited February 2023
    Completely understand the soil description @B3

    Clay gardener here. I book leave from Job to work in garden when I see such state of soil!
    South West London
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