Transplanting Mature Old Garden Rose

chericake2008

15 years ago

A few years back, I orderd some old garden roses from Chamblees. They are now four feet tall and in the wrong area of my garden. I live in Virginia and wondered if I can transplant them now? Temperatures have been ranging from the upper 60s to upper 80s as of late. Should I trim them back first? How do I trim them? Thanks all!

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Comments (8)

palustris
15 years ago
I am in the same situation. I planted some roses in my nursery garden several years ago and ended up planting the roses in pots (also in the nursery) out into the landscape because they are easier to transplant. Now I have a half dozen mature plants in the nursery. This April I managed to move a few before the leaf buds started to swell. I quit as soon as the tiny leaves emerged. Even still, the moved plants are busy making roots while the rest of the roses have leafed out.

Anyway, to answer your question: if you value the plants at all you will have to wait until they are completely dormant. The best time to move them is as soon as the ground thaws. Next year I will start mid March in my zone 6 garden.
chericake2008
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for your response. Can I at least trim them back now?
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leslies
15 years ago
chericake, you can transplant in the autumn. Prepare the soil in the new spot now so it's ready to go. Cut the rose down when the weather gets cold - say early to mid-November, dig the rose out out, replant in the new place. Rose should wake up in the spring and start to put out new growth.

Moving in the very early spring is also good, but sometimes it's hard to catch the soil when it isn't too soggy to be worked.
triple_b
15 years ago
Moving in the very early spring is also good, but sometimes it's hard to catch the soil when it isn't too soggy to be worked.
* * *
yes I can imagine that would be a very small window of opportunity some years. If you happen to be away or sick or anything during that time you may miss it.
kaye
15 years ago
We've transplanted mature OGRs whe we got to it in the spring and have not lost a one. These guys (for the most) are tough and will recover quickly. We've cut back some and had to pull out with a Masey Ferguson tractor. Yes, prepare the place you want to move them to, pop them in, keep well watered..and they hardy miss a beat in a warmer climate. Truth be told, I'd rather do it now than fall when they are going dormant as the growing season is here.
User
15 years ago
I second the comment above. Now is the worst time to move them, when they are actively growing and taking up huge volumes of water. If you must move them now, cut them down to a foot tall, and water them thoroughly until well established. Best to wait till November to dig and move Roses.

Paul
patricianat
15 years ago
We moved approximately 40 from one area of the garden to a newly dug bed a few years ago. We did this right after Christmas (dormantish; our weather is still mild but ground not frozen at that time). We cut them by one-third and by spring, they had no idea they had been moved and were back to normal size and blooming like they always had.
chericake2008
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks to all who responded. I will wait!

Transplanting Mature Old Garden Rose

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palustris

chericake2008
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Transplanting Mature Old Garden Rose

Comments (8)

palustris

chericake2008Original Author

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leslies

triple_b

kaye

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patricianat

chericake2008Original Author

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chericake2008
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chericake2008
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