Moving Roses.....

I'm having a bit of a garden upheaval and top of the list to be moved out of the way are a

Rosa moyesii - thick trunk, about 10' high
Rosa Summer Wine
Rosa American Beauty
Climbing Rose - name lost

I don't think I can get them out of the ground without breaking/damaging the big root and no doubt all the soil will fall off. The buds haven't really broken yet. Is it worth having a go at replanting or should I just pave over them?

I don't even like roses all that much because they are so vicious. Not sure why I seem to have quite a few.

 

I like the flowers (when they are around) but they've seriously drawn blood and caused pain too many times for me to feel thoroughly fond of them. They will carry on doing that no matter how much I change my perception of the 20 or so I grow in my small plot.

I have to say that I would reserve use of the 'disagree' button for serious issues such as racist attitudes or very controversial political opinions, I'm somewhat shocked to find that I have two merely because I expressed ambivalence about roses, despite having dozens in my garden. Anyone would think that I'd been suggesting drowning puppies.

This is a Rose forum, not a Rose Lovers forum, is it not? Surely the right place to raise rose issues?

And to really give my sense of humour failing a good stretch, I don't appreciate being called a muppet for pointing out the most well-known disadvantage of roses.

OK, strop over.

 

I disagree with your comment that roses are vicious. I can prune mine without getting scratched. Nothing more u are entitled to your opinion. Hopefully someone locally who likes them will swap / buy them off u so u can get something else as you seem to have quite a lot. I would if I lived closer and they do have a small financial value do u not think?

 

What I do with them after they've been dug up is not really the issue. If you read my post carefully you would see their fate is undecided and a more positive response from GC would be enough to save me from throwing them upside down in the bin to show maximum disrespect.

My question was, is it too late (end of March/ early April) to transplant roses with big, well-established roots and is it likely to be successful? There is bound to be a lot of damage during the digging -up process. Surely you passionate rose-lovers will have something constructive to say about this?

 

It's not ideal Madahhlia especially as they sound like large plants but at the end of the day you've nothing to lose especially as you're not that keen on them....which isn't a problem to us Rose lovers,each to their own...sorry you feel you haven't had the response you requested but you know what us gardeners are like when we have a passion for things ....cutting a Rose down is like stamping on a fresh ripe tomato just before your going to eat it ,i feel this is getting blown out of proportion ...the question is ...would you miss them? if not go for it otherwise i'd leave them while they are dormant,i think they would stand a better chance

 

Yes u can do it now. As long as you try to minimise root damage it will be successful. Their quite easy to dig up I dug up a 1990 peace rose so quite old / big and put it in a big pot and it was ok. I believe there is such a thing as replant disease so I wouldn't put a rose where one had been but others disagree with me.

 

If their pruned down they shouldn't be difficult to move. I always prune very hard. But again not everyone agrees on that. I'd prune them hard move them and give them a feed. I use top rose myself but any type of organic matter

 

@Madahhlia Woo will have a go at me if I even think about doing something to a Rose, recons I should stick to veg

But he hasn't got a bad bone in his body and was only joshing you, please don't get offended as i'm sure none was intended

@wiseowl Don't panic, before I moved I gave the Roses to Sis to look after

 

Hi there,
Yes, I'd come to the conclusion that I'd have to prune them hard to about 2 feet, leaving myself some leverage to get them out. I'm relieved to know that it might not be too difficult. The R moyesii has three thick stems at least 1.5" in diameter or more. If I pruned even more on replanting it would wipe out any flowers this year but give it a better chance of survival. The flowers only last a week or so and the follow-up hips aren't very spectacular but I've now freed up a space in the front garden where any refugees could go.
I really dislike digging up stuff I've planted but in the interests of overall garden development and getting a bigger greenhouse something has to be changed.

 

Yeah, I think you're right, must have got out the wrong side of the bed this morning (me that is, not WOO.)
Trouble is, now I've got the bit between my teeth as far as my garden redevelopment goes, I've got completely obsessed with it. I've had to take sleeping pills this week because I can't stop thinking it over. First time I've done that since I retired! But in a good sort of way, 'cos it's exciting. But also hard work.

 

i wish you success Madahhlia, i know how stressful it is

if you change youre mind about the roses, i'd be more than happy to take them off your hands

 

Yeah,...just don't mention cats!!!