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roses

I've got a couple of roses i want to move. Is now a good time? And how far down do the roots go?

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    Yes, move them now. root depth will depend on size of rose and how long they've been there.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • DorcasDorcas Posts: 159

    It's a good time to move them, just dig wide and deep (at least a spade length) and then gently pull them up.  New hole should be no deeper than the grafting bud otherwise you'll get suckers keep coming up.  Top dress with manure or pelleted chicken manure after well watering in.  They should be fine.

  • I'd be reluctant to use chicken pellets on roses, they tend to the alkaline and roses prefer an acidic soil. Over time, the alkalinity will build up - not ideal for roses.

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,023

    Roses will grow in a variety of soils, not just acid soil. It's more important that they should be well fed, the soil isn't allowed to dry out, but it should be well drained not waterlogged. They love well rotted farmyard manure.

    There are different opinions on depth of planting, the RHS says plant the graft union at soil level but David Austin says plant so all new shoots growing out at the bottom are 3 inches deep! I plant the graft union about 1 inch deep to help prevent wind rock and to allow for settling of the soil.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,064

    My entire garden is alkaline but very fertile loam on a clay sub soil.  My roses do veryw ell - when tehy're not frozen to death in a bad winter and they get pelleted chicken manure every spring.    

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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