Transplanting Rose Bushes
Question from Sharon:
In April, My son, who lives in San Marcos, Ca. planted 4 canned floribundas. He now, wants to transplant 2 of the roses. When is a good time to do this? Thanks so much. Sharon
Answer from Pat:
Wait until January to transplant these roses. To transplant them now so soon after planting would seriously set them back.
Thanks for the great info!
You’re welcome. Roses should be transplanted only during winter when the roots are dormant. It is dangerous at other times of year to tamper with the surface roots of roses. I have a story that illustrates this.
I once asked a gardener to pull out some ferns that were growing too closely around the canes of an established rose. Instead of doing what I had asked him to do, he took a spade and dug up the rose along with the ferns, then he removed the ferns and replanted the rose. It was July when he did this. The rose promptly died, and unfortunately it was irreplaceable, a variety I have never been able to find again. The correct way to have pulled out these ferns would have been first to get the ground sopping wet, then put one’s fingers around the roots of the ferns
and pull them out individually by hand. In this way one can remove an invasive weed without harming the roots of any other plant growing nearby.
Well, my company had to take some rose bushes up, redoing downtown, this was 2 weeks ago,I took it home, replanted it and it sprouted a flower today. It is april the 26th. I’m so happy it is doing good!
I just planted a rose bush in late may it it was doing so great. Big beautiful roses and plenty of them now just last week I notice hole in the leave now the roses are dying? Please help
When each flower of a rose fades, one must cut off it’s stem just above the next 5-eaflet leaf. This is called “dead-heading” and will keep your rose blooming. Make sure your rose is being fertilized and watered adequately. Roses are heavy feeders. Next, look under the leaves for rose slugs. Rose slugs are a flat, greenish insects that skeletonize leaves. Squish all you find and keep it up. Next go to the nursery garden and purchase a bag of earthworm castings. Spread this evenly an inch or two thick all over the ground under your rose. This will stop ants in their tracks. Ants bring pests. Earthworm castings also will help your plant to fight pests internally and prevent pests living in the ground from emerging and harming your rose. Feed and water as usual. (Worm castings are NOT a fertilizer.) Finally, did you purchase wisely or just grab what looked nice to you and smelled good? Some roses are much easier to grow and far more successful and floriferous than others. It is always wise to concentrate on All America Roses and those varieties known to be well-adapted to your geographical area.