Moving a climbing rose - now

Earlier this year I bought a climbing rose, Ena Harkness, to grow up a north facing fence. It started off well, new growth, etc etc, but hasn't got much further. Looking at it's location, it doesn't get enough sun I think (a few hours in the late afternoon) and something is eating the leaves

So, bearing in mind that the rose probably hasn't put down a huge root system yet, would it be possible to lift and replant it elsewhere? Having read the thread about growing roses in pots http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/roses-in-containersi-t27835.html?p=399679#post399679 I would do this, rather than let the poor thing suffer in semi shade where it is now. I know I won't get any blooms this year.

What do you think?

 

Leave it Aaron and move it at the right time when it goes dormant. It will suffer more if you move it now as the pest that is eating it will go with it when it is repositioned.

 

Not sure about the pest. It could be slugs as the leaves are chomped, but it also has some mildew that is very likely to be coming from a honeysuckle nearby. Said honeysuckle seems fine though and is starting to bloom. Unlike the rose :(

 

Hi Aaron

I love 'Ena Harkness'. It's a wonderful colour, has a lovely perfume and the flowers hang down slightly so they are always displayed well. I think you're right in thinking that it really needs a sunnier position, however.

Do you have any idea what's attacking your rose? I'd be surprised if it's slugs - but then I'm always amazed by what they will eat. I'm sure you've got a good knowledge of what all the usual suspects look like by now . Rose sawfly can be a real pain in my garden, reducing the leaves to skeletons. Other things produce lacy networks of holes. Even leafcutter bees can leave roses looking like swiss cheese plants. Generally I don't use chemicals in my garden but I do make the odd exception if a rose is struggling with something like sawflies, because they can devastate a plant.

I would look after your rose but move it later in the year, as Lollipop suggests. Roses don't like competition or dank positions, so if your honeysuckle is taking over you could try cutting it back a bit and giving your rose some air.

 

Just to clarify, the rose is tiny. Really, really small and has put on very little growth - due I think to location (lack of sun) and being eaten! I've planted other roses that have grown more in this space of time.

My gut feeling is moving it would only do it good...

Not sure now...

Edited to add, moving it would give me a better chance to observe at closer quarters what IS eating it. At the moment it's too dark and at the back of a border to inspect closely.

 

Ta Woo, I think I will do. I am a big fan of 'if something is not doing well, lift it and try elsewhere' type of gardening!

I'll blame you if it dies then?:hehe:

 

Now you know I would be loathe to disagree with Woo, and I do think gut feeling has a lot to offer-but also I know you Aaron, you're impatient.


I have moved plants around like it's a game of musical chairs. It's up to you. Maybe I am a bit too precious about roses, I personally would leave it.

 

Oh bother, now I don't know what to do. Just been outside to take a look at said rose and I can elaborate further. It wasn't huge when I planted it in April, about a foot from soil level and since then has grown another 6-8 inches...and then stopped. No buds, either for flowers or further growth.

I think it doesn't have enough sunlight - the location is Catch 22 though, because if it were to get bigger, it would get more sunlight, but it needs to get bigger first to get that sunlight...Now a clematis or two would romp away, heading for that elusive sunlight and be happy having it's feet in shade...

It's too beautiful a rose to lose it simply because of a bad location and I have a good location for it to go in a pot, right next to the back door.

 

You're a nightmare lol :D

 

I've repotted a small climbing Albertine rose last week. It wasn't doing well in it's 14" pot, so I bought some soil based John Innes compost and changed it. There was one big tap root and not much else. It suffered no ill effects and is already showing signs of better growth, it gets watered every evening.

 

It's your wild streak Woo. Mr Hamilton would have moved his if they were in the wrong spot I think. It's funny how I can leave some of my plants to it, let them take their chances etc, but with those plants such as roses, I become a fascist :D .


Considering , if moved, it would be under your care Aaron that it would not only survive but still thrive this year. Might even flower yet, I wouldn't rule it out-some of my roses are only just showing little buds.

I would say if you do move it (because I know you will :D ) I would keep it well watered-some compost in there too to get those new fine roots out as quick as they can be. I would give it some potash I think too, to encourage root growth.


If Woo says you can move it then frankly that would be good enough for me.