Transplanting roses is trickier than transplanting other plant varieties.

If you’re not careful, your rose bush won’t survive. Here’s how to do it.


Steps to Transplanting your Roses

  1. Choose a time of year when the rose is dormant. Typically, this happens during the late fall and winter, when roses are sort of in a hibernation mode to prepare for spring blooms.
  2. Pick a rose bush that has at least three strong canes.
    Thoroughly soak the rosebush with water. This will loosen up the soil so you won’t disturb the roots when transplanting it.
  3. Prune the back and spray it with dormant spray. This spray will keep fungus and mildew from growing on the rose bush, as well as prevent pests from nesting and laying eggs on it.
  4. Dig a large hole to receive the rosebush. The hole should be large enough to accommodate the plant’s roots.  
  5. Dig up the bush and set it in the hole. Position the rose in the center of the hole with the crown at the proper depth. The bud union is the point at the bottom of the bush where new stems emerge. Spread out the plant’s roots around the hole.
  6. Mix 30 percent potting soil with the native soil. The potting soil will give the bush enough nutrients to take root in the new location but still allow the roots to spread beyond the nutrient-rich soil in the hole.
  7. Fill the hole around the bush with the soil mixture. Tamp the soil down so it’s even with the crown.
  8. Water the rosebush thoroughly.

Further Reading

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Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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