When to move rose garden?

8 years ago

I need some advice on when to move my rose garden while we have pool construction going on. I live on the east end of Long Island, NY and have a large bed of 40 hybrid teas adjacent to my pool deck. We are replacing our pool and the surrounding pool deck starting early October and the roses will have to be relocated during the construction. We will heal them in for the winter elsewhere on the property, likely where it will be full shade until leaf drop. They typically bloom and grow through the end of October and some years into early November, so they will not be dormant when the construction starts. Should I move them now to give them a chance to settle in the temporary location before winter, or wait until right before the start of construction in early October when they will have already stored up most of their energy for the winter and will be closer to dormancy?

Featured Answer

fig_insanity Z7b E TN

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

If you do decide to move them now (which is what I'd recommend, but I'd hate to be the one doing it!), you need to watch this video by Paul Zimmerman. I'm surprised Paul hasn't chimed in here already :) I'd also think about using the anti-transpirant (Wilt Pruf, et al) michaelg mentioned, but I'd use it AFTER the roses are well watered. It will not only prevent loss of water, but it will interfere with the water uptake process. Now that I think about it, it may zero out any benefits. Anti-transpirants are mostly used to prevent water loss in winter, when leaves ARE losing moisture, but frozen ground prevents roots from taking UP water. Using it now may help until the plants can grow some new roots, but I think I'd start spraying the leaves with a good stream of water within a couple of weeks, to aid in the removal of the Wilt Pruf. In the summer heat, it should come off much faster than it does in winter. That way, you'd get the benefits of temporarily lowering transpiration, without taking the chance you're smothering them in the long term.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

seil zone 6b MI
8 years ago
If it's not too hot I would move them now. Let them get settled in so they'll be stronger for winter. If you wait until October they'll only get a few weeks before it gets too cold. They won't have a chance to grow any root ball to hold them until spring.
User
8 years ago
I don't know what the climate is like in Long Island. If it is a warm climate like mine,where winters are not severe (Tuscany, Italy),I'd definitely say wait until late September to do anything, right before the construction work starts, because in hot climates, roses are at their most vulnerable in summer. Summer is the "killer" season for us,with the severe heat and drought. You can encourage dormancy by removing the leaves. But if your winters are very cold, I'd say do as Seil says. My "zone" would probably be about an 8 (don't know if it's closer to 8a or 8b),whereas hers is 6b.
Related Discussions
When to move roses?
Q
Comments (7)
One comment why I move my roses in early spring, late winter; My experience with dormant fall moved roses is the same as planting a potted rose in the fall. Little or no root growth into the surrounding soil plus lack of soil settling completely around the roots seems to make it more likely to get freeze damage and die during the winter or struggle the following year if it survives. Those I plant or move in early spring seem to respond like any overwintered established rose and leaf out normally when the weather permits. It then has all summer to mature and grow roots into the surrounding soil. Just wanted to mention the reason for my madness.
...See More
Overwintering Rose Tree/ Rose Standards (When to Move into Garage
Q
Comments (1)
After the first hard freeze. Won't hurt to wrap it as long as the wrap is removed early enough in late winter/early spring. Water when the soil appears to be dry or toss a shovel full of snow on the soil ocassionally. If the soil freezes, that's OK. Keep away from any outside light source. Place in a wagon or on rollers so it can be easily moved in and out when it warms up in late winter or spring. In spring, move out on days above freezing and in at night unless no frost is expected.
...See More
When to move roses?
Q
Comments (1)
Thanks, I never plant or move anything during the summer. Even if I water frequently, most plants die from the shock combined with the sunlight.
...See More
When to move rose bushes?
Q
Comments (0)
I have two rose bushes that I want to move. One was moved already last spring, but it got lost behind the hollyhocks that since moved in. The other looks like it's been where it is for a long time, but it's not thriving and is also overwhelmed by nearby plants. I heard that early fall is the best time for moving rose bushes; true? Any advice to help it go more smoothly and successfully?
...See More
slyefox
Original Author
8 years ago
I'm basically in a Zone 6b area. We get a good amount of snow here.
michaelg
8 years ago
This is a tough situation, but I agree with seil. I wonder if spraying with anti-transpirant would help with the move. Apply to upper and lower leaves a few days before transplanting. You will probably need to reduce the leaf area by 1/3 or more as well.
altorama Ray
8 years ago
Mine don't like being moved in the heat. If I have to I try to keep them a bit shaded and give them lots of water. I cut them back as Michael said sometimes, depends on the rose.
altorama Ray
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hahaha I love the dramatic slow motion segment.. really miss Ashdown...
vasue VA
8 years ago
I'd start moving them end of August, beginning of September, when the heat starts to fade & the nights are cooler. You could prepare their temporary bed in the meantime so it settles after digging. Do you plan to replant them after the new pool's done or wait till early next Spring?
summersrhythm_z6a
8 years ago
I just pulled one rose out by hand and planted in a different spot......I wish I watched this earlier. Now I have to water the roses more.......hope the rose is ok. Thanks John, it's very educational.
slyefox
Original Author
8 years ago
Since pool work won't be done until February, I'm going to leave them in their temporary bed through winter and relocate them back to new bed in early spring before they come out of dormancy. All of my other plants and trees being relocated will have their root balls wrapped in burlap to ease replanting after the construction is done - would this not work for the roses too? Also what about "root pruning" them now, let new feeder roots grow closer to root ball over the next 6-8 weeks, and transplant them after cool nights start?
michaelg
8 years ago
Whoa--if that is the timing, why not wait until the plants are dormant in December to dig them? The problem with transplanting roses during the growing season is that you often can't get a good cohesive root ball, so roots can't compensate for the water being lost through the leaves. In dormant season, no leaves, so very little water lost.
User
8 years ago
yeah, I second michealg:MUCH better to wait until the plants are dormant!!!
PRO
Paul Zimmerman Roses Consulting & Design.
8 years ago
You mention when the nights turn cooler. That's the time to move them since you can't wait until dormancy. I'd take a radical approach. Cut them back to around 12" high, strip the leaves and then move them as soon as the nights turn cool. After you move them water them in well but no fertilizer. Particularly not nitrogen. As per Jack Falker's recommendation about 6 weeks before your first frost date give them a dose of potassium once a week.

This will give them a chance to set some roots beforehand. Hopefully you can dig up a decent rootball aka my video but this will still give the rose time to settle in. Come winter I'd mound the parts of the canes sticking out of the ground to within 2-3" of their tips. That should keep them healthy until you can plant them after the work is done.