How to Move a MATURE ROSE BUSH. 1 Year Update. SUCCESS!, by Mark's House and Garden UK on YouTube. 4 min 21 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 21 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Choose a dormant period, after the leaves have fallen and before new growth starts in spring. This is when the rose can be moved with the least stress.
Water the rose deeply for a few days before the move. Moisten the soil around the roots so the root ball holds together when you lift it.
Dig the new hole in advance. Make it about twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth, fork the base, and mix in a bucket of compost or organic matter.
Prune the bush back a little before lifting. Use sharp, clean secateurs or loppers and make diagonal cuts just above an outward-facing bud.
Dig a trench around the rose, about 30 cm from the stems, and work the spade under the root ball. Lift it with as many roots as possible.
Move the rose to the new hole and set it at the same depth as before, or slightly higher. Spread the roots, backfill with soil, and firm it in layers.
Water thoroughly after planting and keep the soil moist for the first 12 months. Check the rose in dry spells without making the ground waterlogged.
Tips and common mistakes
Wear gloves and keep your hands clear of sharp secateurs and the spade edge while lifting the root ball.
Do not replant deeper than the original soil line; slightly higher is safer than too low.
Water through the first summer, not just the first week, because the roots are still establishing.
Move the rose while dormant; moving it in full leaf puts more stress on the plant.
Questions
When is the best time to move a mature rose bush?
Move it while dormant, after leaf fall and before spring growth. In most UK gardens that means late autumn to late winter, when the soil is not frozen or waterlogged.
Can I move a rose that is still flowering?
It is better to wait until it is dormant. If you must move it in leaf, water it well before and after, and expect some wilting and fewer flowers.
How hard should I prune before moving?
Prune only a little, removing about a third of the top growth. The aim is to reduce demand on the roots, not to hard prune the bush.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
