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Transplanting Roses
thefosters
Posts: 78
I need to transplant a rose when would be the best time of year to do this.
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Thank you. Should I also do a bit of pruning at the same time, the rose has some very tall stems.
Thanks again its a lovely Old Rose and I don't want to lose it.
From my experience, I think that you can be a bit tougher, Fosters. For example, I was in France this August and discovered a stunning Delbard rose that I was always after: Jeanne Moreau. I bought it, trimmed it, shook the soil off the roots and washed them, wrapped them in newspaper and clingfilm and popped it into my suitcase (this was from a very reputable seller). At first, it sulked and was VERY unhappy- all the leaves fell and some of the thinner canes dried up. I therefore pruned off the thinner canes and cut back the thicker ones to about 8 inches. Now, it is the picture of health and already has lots of new growth!
Considering the stress I had put this plant under during the height of its growing season, it has shown remarkable resilience.
In your case, I would say that you can already prune back the larger canes to no more than 12 inches, pruning at a slant, just above a bud. Prepare the new area (where no roses were previously growing) and fork in some well rotted manure and a handful of Osmocote. When you dig the hole, do add a handful of bonemeal and I am a firm believer in adding 3 or so chopped banana peels! Then replant with as much of the original rootball as you can, sprinkling it with mycorrhizal fungi, if you've got some. Then mulch with well rotted manure, straw or old bark and water well.
I'm sure it will be fine...and please excuse me if I was telling you what you already knew about transplanting. I suppose my main point is that roses are quite resilient. As long as the ground is not frozen, you can replant them and putting them in now (November begins bare-root season) gives the roots better time to establish for a strong performance next spring! As a final case study, I bought a very cheap Chandos Beauty hybrid tea at a garden centre 3 weeks ago- covered with black spot! I pruned it back, denuded it of all the leaves and replanted it- it's very much alive and I shall spray it with Roseclear to deal with any chance of overwintering spores. I am confident that I will have beautiful blooms come next summer.
Best of luck! Oh- and which old rose is it that you have?
I sent in my post after reading that roses do not like to be moved but after seeing your reply I am feeling more confident.
Last year I watched a programme encouraging gardeners to plant Old Roses so I bought Ferdinand Pitchard so the plant has only been in the ground for one season. When I decided to move over to Sky the only place they could site the dish was close to my rose so I want to move it before it starts to grow again next year.
This thread is very informative. I love roses and have quite a few in my garden some cheap ones that I don't know and this year I invested in lots of david Austin roses. Unfortunately I was too quick to plant them and I need to replan my garden and potentially move quite a few plants around. I have taken pictures of my garden and really need time to work out and plan where the right places are and I want to make sure I get it right this time. So my questions are...
1) can I wait until February or March to replant them?
2) when shall I prune them?
3) I had a few roses with black spot , what's the best way to treat them?
so if I have hijacked this tread but if the best time to move them is now I need to getting planning.
thanks
Hi Angela,
I love roses as well and have invested in several Davd Austin roses.
To give you my humble take on your questions:
1. You can wait until February or even March, if March is cold enough and they are still dormant. February would be better, in my opinion.
2. I would prune them in November to December. You may move them at any time after pruning- they are easier to move and will be dormant. The shorter canes would place less stress on the plant while the roots establish over winter.
3. Black spot can be treated inorganically with Rose Clear Ultra. It is a systemic fungicide and insecticide, with a very pleasant rose odour actually! But it is systematic because it is absorbed into the rose and helps fights diseases from within, as well as resist funghi. It also eradicates the eponymous plague of aphids. You can also treat black spot organically using milk- yes, milk! One part milk (semi-skimmed/whole) to two parts water, sprayed once per week. It apparently also works on powdery mildew, if you have it (my Madame Isaac Pereire is prone to that).
in a nutshell, I would plan my garden this autumn and try to put the roses in full-sun locations. I would also prune my roses in mid to late November, even if they are not ready to be moved. Give them a spray with the Rose Clear as well, if you use it and clear away all the fallen leaves, branches, etc. Blackspot will over-winter in dead organic matter from the rose. You may then set about reordering your garden, and you may dig up your roses and replant them at any time while dormant (usually mid-late November through to late March), and as long as the ground is NOT frozen.
Do remember to prepare the planting sites as I mentioned above- roses are very greedy, heavy feeders. We're always here if you need help!
Hi Anomander, and thanks for the tip about milk for black spot. I've got Mme Isaac Pereire and she never suffers, nor do Iceberg, Mme Alfred Carriere or Gertrude Jekyll. Mme Hardy suffers dreadfully every year, as does Gloire de Dijon, although they are both in nice airy positions, and I do try to avoid inorganics, so milk it is, next spring!
You're welcome and thank you for the tip about Gloire de Dijon! I'll be on the lookout for blackspot but with Mme Isaac Pereire, I was referring to powdery mildew. one of them is very susceptible but it could use more sun and better air circulation, arguably.
This autumn, I may finally get Gertrude Jekyll. I'm also considering an Alba semi-plena... I really need to restrain myself because of space limitations (I grow most of them in large pots!) but as we know, roses arw SOOO addictive!
I've got two Gertrude Jekyll, even though the colour and form is very similar to Mme Isaac Pereire - the scent is to die for! If you happen to be near me (North Devon) you are welcome to come and take cuttings!
Oh you are too kind!
Thank you so much! Sadly, I am all the way in Buckinghamshire and I'd also feel it too much of an imposition but your generosity truly humbles me.
If I may ask however, what would benefit us all would be a descrition of how you take rose cuttings. I've never done that. It would certainly relieve my wallet!