Transplanting Roses
Hold it! You might be itching to relocate your delicate flowers. You might even have valid reasons for doing so, such as the lack of rays they have been getting or for the sake of aesthetics. Or, you have may be moving to a new home. However, it is important to go through these steps prior to uprooting your rose plants.
First things first; prepare the ground where you are planning to place your roses. The last thing you want to do is to allow the root ball to be exposed to the hot sun or lose any of its moisture. If your plant has to travel by vehicle to get to its new location, make sure that you cover the roots with a damp piece of burlap.
A good tip to remember is to water your plant well the day before you plan to move it. Water is the secret of a successful transplant. The chances of transplanting a dry, wilting plant successfully are low. But, if the plant is full of water, the demands on the roots are minimized for a while after the transplant.
You should aim to uproot the root ball as wholly as possible. However, it is unavoidable that some roots will remain in the ground, especially the ones already way beneath the soil.
Don’t trim your rose plant from the top if it survived the relocation process well. You should only nip out the parts that are dead and withered. Keep watering your roses especially after you have transferred them.
It’s a good idea to add about a half to a full cup of bone meal to the hole where the plant will go. You will also need to set the plant slightly higher than it was before because the plant will settle within the hole. The bud union can be about one or two inches above ground level. Once the plant is watered and has settled, you can press slightly on the plant to eliminate air pockets.
Most rose enthusiasts would agree not transplant roses in the growing season for several reasons. It is easier to transplant the roses while they are dormant because there is less of a risk of them going into shock since they are not growing. Plus, right after the annual pruning the plant will be smaller and easier to move around. But, with proper preparation and a lot of water, anyone can follow the steps listed here and anyone can have beautiful, flourishing roses after a transplant during any season.
