Advice for moving house with Roses

Hi
On Friday I am moving house and I am wanting to take my four roses with me. They have a big sentimental value to me as they belonged to my late parents. I've looked up online how to transplant them (I pruned them just over a week ago and have dug two out). However, the house I am moving to currently doesn't have any soil areas to put them in. The current owners have gravelled over the back garden so it is going to take some time to make the garden into what I want it to be.

So, my question is, how long can I safely leave the roses in the tubs I'm putting them in to move for without potentially harming them? Also, one is quite tall (I think it may be a climber). I've cut it to about a third of it's height but it's still approx 6 feet tall. Could I cut it any smaller to move it or would that harm it.

Any advice would be greatfully received as these mean so much to me. Thanks in advance Sue

 

If you plant them into big pots, at least 60cms tall, they can stay in them for several years, if the compost is good and you feed and water them. The compost should be mixed with some topsoil and well rotted manure or you could use John Innes 3 which contains loam.

When I moved house I dug up some roses and gave them to my daughter. I cut the climbers down to about 3 feet for ease of transport and put them into plastic compost bags with some damp compost. She then planted them in her garden. I also trimmed some of the roots. It was winter so they were dormant. They all survived.

Good luck with your move.

 

Hi @Sue15 , like Busy- Lizzie said, the roses should do just fine in pots. Get the biggest pots you can so that they don't blow over or dry/ freeze.

A sturdy stake will help against wind rock if you decide to leave any height to the plants.

I find that Roses in pots tend to get all kinds of pests, probably because the biodiversity around them is not as good as when they grow in mixed border.

Congratulations for the new home!

 

You could also do cuttings as insurance..it's the right time of year Choose roughly pencil thickness or +, firm stems and cut into roughly 30cm lengths. If you make a sloping cut at the top, you'll know which way up to plant them. Strip all leaves off. Insert into deep pots of loam-based compost for 3/4 of their length. (You can put several into one pot but if you mix them, make sure each cutting is labelled). Water once and keep in a cool, shady spot. You should see signs of growth next spring but they can be left in the pots until autumn planting time.

 

Great time of yr to be moving with roses as they are not reliant on top growth to survive.

Good luck with the move, @Sue15.

 

New climbing roses that you could buy are pruned right down for sale; its better than risking breaking if accidentally damaged(by Removals!).Good luck with the move.Let us know in your profile roughly where you are going, cos we are nosey, also can better advise etc.

 

Thank you all I'm in Sheffield, S Yorkshire

 

I can't help with the roses @Sue15, but the others have given great advice.

The only thing I'd say is - have you notified the new purchasers of your current property that you're taking them? Anything in the ground is considered part of the sale unless you state you're taking them with you. If you're renting, I expect that's different though.
Good luck with them all though.