I have a rose question to ask you for Big Son in Adelaide. He has 6 grafted, topiary red rose bushes along the inside of his front fence. They look spectacular ATM but that’s nothing to do with my question. They are getting a new fence, gateway and front entrance so these plants have to be moved. Would it be possible to save them and replant after fence construction is completed?

They are about 1.5mt high and have been in the ground at least 5 years. I know it’s the wrong time of the year for this and it will be a huge job to do at best. Time is short too so he wouldn’t be able to sever the roots and allow time for the bushes to grow new shorter feeder roots, as is usually the way it’s done I believe.

Any info you can offer would be appreciated, O great Rose Guru!

They are so beautiful I would hate to see them get wrecked but that may be the only alternative. He is prepared for the fact that they may not be saveable.

pomolo said:

I have a rose question to ask you for Big Son in Adelaide. He has 6 grafted, topiary red rose bushes along the inside of his front fence. They look spectacular ATM but that’s nothing to do with my question. They are getting a new fence, gateway and front entrance so these plants have to be moved. Would it be possible to save them and replant after fence construction is completed?

They are about 1.5mt high and have been in the ground at least 5 years. I know it’s the wrong time of the year for this and it will be a huge job to do at best. Time is short too so he wouldn’t be able to sever the roots and allow time for the bushes to grow new shorter feeder roots, as is usually the way it’s done I believe.

Any info you can offer would be appreciated, O great Rose Guru!

They are so beautiful I would hate to see them get wrecked but that may be the only alternative. He is prepared for the fact that they may not be saveable.

I meant to say that these roses are standards not topiary. Silly Billy!

I’ve moved plenty of roses around and they do well. I’ve dug them up, potted and then replanted.

I dug up 5 of my daughter’s standards recently. They will be fine if you try to dig up as much of the root ball as possible without too much root damage. Pot them into large containers, at least 40cm (I use B shop’s cheapish pots, around $10 each ) Water them in well with a seaweed concentrate solution. Give them a drink about twice a week unless the weather hots up a lot. They will settle down after a month or so. I mix coir in with my potting mix, and a little blood and bone will go down well. No food until growth is re-established.
Good luck!

bubba louie said:

I’ve moved plenty of roses around and they do well. I’ve dug them up, potted and then replanted.

My son is not a gardener of your standing BL.

orchid40 said:

I dug up 5 of my daughter’s standards recently. They will be fine if you try to dig up as much of the root ball as possible without too much root damage. Pot them into large containers, at least 40cm (I use B shop’s cheapish pots, around $10 each ) Water them in well with a seaweed concentrate solution. Give them a drink about twice a week unless the weather hots up a lot. They will settle down after a month or so. I mix coir in with my potting mix, and a little blood and bone will go down well. No food until growth is re-established.
Good luck!

thanks O40. All good ammunition there.

I concur.

I’ve moved some massive roses at the wrong time of year, and all have survived. I’d probably remove all of the blooms, take as much soil as possible, in fact, I’d get the big 30 – 45 cm (12 – 15inch) pots and take almost the same amount of soil. Cram ‘em into the pot, as much soil as possible. Water with at least 3 times the pot’s capacity… that’s easily 21 to 60 depending on whether you got a 30cm pot or a 45cm one.

Top up with a good potting mix… now I wouldn’t add any fert until it is showing signs of regrowth. Too much fert on brand new roots can burn. I’d leave them in a shadier spot and then monitor. If there is some longish branches, I’d prune, but not dramatically. Again, I’d remove the blooms, and future ones for a while.

pain master said:

I concur.

I’ve moved some massive roses at the wrong time of year, and all have survived. I’d probably remove all of the blooms, take as much soil as possible, in fact, I’d get the big 30 – 45 cm (12 – 15inch) pots and take almost the same amount of soil. Cram ‘em into the pot, as much soil as possible. Water with at least 3 times the pot’s capacity… that’s easily 21 to 60 depending on whether you got a 30cm pot or a 45cm one.

Top up with a good potting mix… now I wouldn’t add any fert until it is showing signs of regrowth. Too much fert on brand new roots can burn. I’d leave them in a shadier spot and then monitor. If there is some longish branches, I’d prune, but not dramatically. Again, I’d remove the blooms, and future ones for a while.

Thanks for replying PM. All suggestions have been emailed to novice down south.