Roses - Transplanting
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  (February) Could you tell me when would be a good time to transplant rose bushes? I need to move them out of one bed and put them in another area. Thank You.

  I think the easiest time to move them is when there is the least amount of thorns -- after pruning. Prune and move them at the same time later this month.

  (June) I live in Hot Springs and have about 10 rose bushes that I would like to move to another location in my yard. When is the best time to move them and how far should I cut the canes back before they are moved?

  Moving plants while they are actively growing, can cause the plants to wilt and stress. If it is possible to wait, I would move the roses when you prune them in late February. The plants would be dormant then, and the roses need pruning at that time as well. If there is a pressing need to get them moved now, move them with as much of a root ball as possible, prune them back one third and mulch and water. Expect daily wilting until the root system begins to kick back in. Given proper care, they should bounce back and re-establish themselves, but you will need to pay close attention to their watering needs during this transition time. Cutting off the blooms or flower buds is also helpful, in directing energy to the plant and the roots. Plants that are blooming send energy to the flowers first.

  Can I transplant a rose bush while it is blooming now, or do I need to wait for fall when it stops blooming?

  Transplanting is best done in the fall or winter, when the plants are dormant. Moving them at the onset of summer will make it tough on your plant. If you can wait, do so.

  I need to move some rose bushes from a flower bed that has gotten too crowded. I have some free time now, and was hoping I could go ahead and move them now. Would that be ok, especially on a milder day, which we seem to be having frequently this year? Is it ok to prune it at the same time? 

  You could move the rose bush now, because we are in the dormant season. As to pruning already, that wouldn’t be a wise move. If you severely prune your roses now, and we have any severe cold weather, you could end up losing the bush. You really should wait until the majority of the winter has passed, and prune in late February. If you need to do a little pruning to make the move more manageable, do as little as possible. I agree that it would be easier to prune back hard before moving, so you may want to move this transplant job until February and find something else to do in the garden now.

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