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When to move Maiden's Blush?

15 years ago

Hi all! I posted to the Roses forum here http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/roses/msg0310194723125.html?6 and got some helpful replies, but it was suggested that I also post here in the antique roses forum too. So here I am :)

Last year, I thought my Maiden's Blush which had overwintered in a pot was a goner, but I stuck it in the ground on a "just in case" basis (on the advice of posters in here, in fact - thank you!), It was in such sorry shape that I was convinced it would die, so I sited it in a back corner where it could shrivel away in peace.

Well, it surprised me and has THRIVED. However, it did so well that it needs more room, and I'd like to show it off in a more prominent position anyway.

Which leaves me with loads of question:

- When is a good time to move it?

- My plan is to pull out a small red knockout (planted midsummer last year) and move it more or less where that was. Can I put a rose where a different rose was?

- Do I need to do anything special to the soil to prepare it?

- When is a good time to move it? We've had a MUCH colder than usual winter and although it's warming up a bit now, I'm not convinced it's here to stay. When's the optimum time? After last week's warmer temps it seems to have started putting out some new growth - I can see a few bits of green starting to come out, but no actual leaves yet.

- it has been suggested that NOW is a good time... but do I need to do anything special to protect it if temperatures dip again? We've had an atypically cold winter (usually 30-40, this year 15-30), and I'm simply not sure how traumatic they find being dug up and moved.

Thanks in advance!

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Comments (5)

stefanb8
15 years ago
I second the recommendation to do it immediately -- it would be okay to amend the soil (only the upper part of the hole, mind you) in its new position if you feel the soil there lacks something that you already have on hand, but you can always mulch later with extra ingredients like composted manure or well-rotted kitchen compost. It's much more helpful to move it as soon as possible, and you shouldn't need to worry about protecting it (this is a hardy rose, and if new shoots are lost in a freeze, it will put out new ones to replace them). Just be as careful to dig it with minimal loss of roots and water, water, water. I wouldn't prune it back, and I wouldn't worry about anything else at this point, and you should have no trouble!

Stefan
pfzimmerman
15 years ago
I like moving when the rose is dormant. Right when the Forsythia start to bloom is a good time. And I second water, water, water. How big is it?
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divamum
Original Author
15 years ago
The deed is done.... :D

I got out there this morning and moved everything around. I tried to get as much root as I could, although it had grown in such a way that I couldn't even FIND the end of one of the big roots, and no matter how carefully I followed it and tried to tease it out I just couldn't get all of it :(

It's got more room though, now, and I mixed some compost into the hole with soil from its former location, gave it a good watering and put a thin layer of mulch over it. So far so good. I hope it makes it - i have real sentimental attachment to this one and will be very sad if this kills it. However, its "recovery" last year from "twig" to "gorgeous, fragrant bloomer" encourages me that it will weather this as well.

It's about 2.5-3 ft, with two strong main stalks and a couple of spindlier offshoot branches.

Should I water it no matter what the weather... and how often is "water, water, water"? It's +/- 35-45 for the next few days, and then predicted to warm up into the 60's next week (seems I've been lucky on that front!) w/occasional light rain.

Thanks again - and sorry for the n00b questions! The roses I planted last year all did quite well, but I'm very far from familiar with anything beyond basic maintenance!
pfzimmerman
15 years ago
If you watered it in well today then I wouldn't water it much until the temps climb. Give a it a drink every other day for about a week and then water as normal. The rose is still semi-dormant so it doesn't need as much watering. Your top is a good size. Not too large.

I've moved hundreds of established roses the way you did with great success.
york_rose
15 years ago
If it's happy it will probably grow to be about 5' X 6' (give or take).

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