| In Mediterranean and mild winter climates | | | | that wounds to the roots are a source of future |
| generally, winter, being the dormant season, is the | | | | fungal and bacterial infection, and of irritating |
| right time for planting bare-root roses. As | | | | suckering branches. Digging should begin therefore |
| transplanted roses also end up with exposed | | | | at least 1 meter (3 ft) from the center of the |
| roots, it follows that the winter is also the only | | | | bush, and even more with especially large shrubs. |
| season for transplanting existing rose bushes. | | | | As the earth is carefully dug away, it will be |
| Transplanting a large rose shrub seems at first | | | | necessary to cut off some root trunks in order |
| sight to be a daunting task, but this is not so if | | | | to extricate the plant from the ground. Make sure |
| the correct procedures are carried out. These are | | | | the pruning cuts are as clean as possible. After |
| as follows. | | | | removing the plant trim back further the long |
| The Planting Hole | | | | roots, and remove any damaged or cankerous |
| The planting hole should be prepared in advance | | | | tissue. It is worthwhile painting the wounds with an |
| so that the bush can be planted in the ground | | | | anti-fungal cream suitable for woody plants. |
| immediately after removal from the ground. As | | | | Planting |
| with planting roses in general, the soil should be | | | | The rose bush can now be planted as one would |
| mixed with well-rotted compost, and adequate | | | | a normal bare-root specimen, the principle aim |
| drainage is essential. It should be wide and deep | | | | being to maximize the contact between the soil |
| enough to take a root system that is larger than | | | | particles and the root tissue. Build a mound of soil |
| that of a new plant, so the diameter of the hole | | | | and place the root branches on it, all the while |
| could be as large as 1 meter, and the depth at | | | | gently firming soil underneath, around and on top |
| least 50 cm. | | | | of the roots. Make sure the plant is not sunken |
| Pruning | | | | too deep into the soil, as this will cause rot, but |
| The rose bush to be transplanted ought to be | | | | not too high as well, as the plant will be unstable in |
| pruned hard, so that a group of 3-7 main | | | | windy conditions. Make a basin around the plant, |
| branches, about 20-40cm in length is all that | | | | and water very gently to settle the soil particles |
| remain. The shrub should now resemble a | | | | on the roots. It is best to spread an organic mulch |
| bare-root rose that you see in the garden | | | | around the plant, to retain moisture and suppress |
| centers. Ideally, the branches are evenly spaced | | | | weeds. |
| one from each other, and thereby form a | | | | And Remember! |
| complete circle. | | | | Roses develop poorly in soil where other roses |
| Removing the Rose Bush | | | | have previously grown. Therefore, there is little |
| While it is usually impractical to remove a | | | | point in transplanting your rose bushes in such |
| specimen with its entire root system intact, the | | | | locations. Instead, look for some fresh part of the |
| aim is to preserve as much as possible, while | | | | garden to start a new rose garden. |
| causing minimal damage to the roots. Remember | | | | |