Transplanting roses: when is the best time? This is how it works

Moving roses can be a real challenge depending on the age of the plant. Our easy-to-understand instructions help avoid mistakes and also contain valuable tips!

Roses

Roses have a particularly long lifespan and adorn the home gardens with their magnificent flowers for many years. It can happen that the plant is simply too big for the current location and has to be replanted. In addition, it is possible that the location was not chosen optimally and the rose simply does not feel comfortable. In such cases it is advisable to move the plant to a new spot.

Transplanting

Which roses can be transplanted?

In general, all roses can be transplanted, but the age of the plants has a decisive influence on the amount of work. Because the roses are deep-rooted and develop over the years a well-grown root system that extends deep into the earth. If you are thinking of moving your rose bush, you can use the following factors to estimate the amount of work to be expected.

• Young plants are easy to transplant
• the older the plant, the more roots it forms
• older plants can be converted with a little effort
• especially old roses require a lot more effort
• these can usually no longer be transplanted with a spade or hand
• therefore only move old roses in an emergency

time

In principle, roses can be turned over all year round. However, it is not advisable to transplant rose bushes that are in bloom. Because this represents an enormous burden for the plants, which is why this should be designed as gently as possible. Ideally, the rose bushes are moved during the dormancy period between October and December, with the ideal time in autumn. Because repositioning at this time enables the roses to put all their strength into the root growth and thus to take root well before winter. If you want to move the crops at another point in time, you should consider the following.

winter

• Transplanting is also possible in frost
• Then protect the plant from frost
• z. E.g.: with leaves and fir branches

Spring and summer

• Moving blooming roses is not optimal
• high temperatures cause stress
• protect from the direct midday sun
• water a lot so that it does not dry out

Location

The choice of the new cookie is also decisive for the chances of success of the implementation. Because the location should not have been colonized by rose plants, if possible, because otherwise the so-called "rose fatigue" can occur. The newly planted rose bushes develop only very sparsely and their root growth is particularly weak. The growth of the plants also depends on the following factors.

• plenty of sun, but not too hot
• as airy as possible
• Orientation southeast or southwest
• permeable, nutrient-rich soil
• sandy-loamy soil is optimal
• Planting distance of hybrid or bed roses: 40-50 cm
• Planting distance between shrub and climbing roses: 80-150 cm

Tip: If the soil does not meet the requirements of the rose, it can be improved if necessary. For this purpose, heavy soils are enriched with lava granulate, whereas light soils are improved with the addition of rock flour or bentonite.

Transplanting instructions

Transplanting roses: instructions in 5 steps

Before the rose is dug up, the new planting hole should first be prepared. Otherwise, the plant would have to linger in the air until it sets in and suffer stress as a result. The planting hole should be dug as generously as possible and be about twice as large as the root ball. It is usually sufficient if the hole is around 40 cm deep and 40 cm wide. This ensures that the roots have enough space and are not damaged when they are inserted. The following instructions provide an overview of the further procedure:

Step 1: Shorten the rose shoots

Unfortunately, it is usually unavoidable that some fine roots are damaged when moving. However, this can have a negative effect on the water and nutrient supply of the plant, as it creates an imbalance. Because the healthy root mass shrinks as a result and can no longer adequately supply the existing shoots. It is therefore advisable to prune the rose shoots vigorously as follows before transplanting.

• best when the rose has lost its leaves
• remove existing leaves and flowers
• shorten all shoots vigorously
• to a length of about 20-40 cm
• about 3-7 eyes should remain

Step 2: dig out the rose bush

The strong pruning also makes it much easier to dig out the rose, as it is no longer quite as extensive. Before picking up the spade, you should first estimate the diameter of the root ball. This is much larger in older roses than in young plants. Then the rose bush is excavated as described below.

• prick the soil around the roots with the spade
• for young plants about 1 to 2 spades deep
• dig a trench in older plants
• cut off roots that are too long
• Carefully lift the plant and remove it from the soil
• Leave as much soil as possible at the roots

Step 3: shorten the roots

After the rose has been dug up, the first step is to check the root mass. Because when you dig out the rose bush, even if you work carefully, roots are repeatedly damaged, making it easier for pathogens to penetrate. However, pruning is not only used for protection, because pruning also stimulates the roots to sprout again. Trimming the roots is therefore an important step when transplanting the roses. It is important to note the following.

• work with a sharp, clean cutting tool
• Cut back damaged roots
• but cut as little as possible

Note: If a large part of the root mass is lost due to the excavation, the upper part of the plant must be adjusted and shortened accordingly!

Step 4: insert the rose bush

Ideally, the rose is placed in the new planting hole immediately after it has been excavated. However, if this is not possible, the plant should be temporarily stored moist. There are two options for this: Either the rose is placed in a bucket filled with water or its root ball is wrapped in damp cloths. The rose is then placed in the prepared planting hole as follows.

• Insert the rose in the middle and vertically
• The finishing point is dug in
• at least 5 cm deep
• Fill the planting hole with soil
• Mix in special rose earth if necessary
• gently shake the rose
• so that no cavities form in the root area
• Press the earth gently, but not too hard
• then form a pouring rim with soil

Tip: The earth should not be pressed too hard! Because the denser the soil, the more energy the plant needs to sprout the roots.

Step 5: pour and pound

After planting, the rose is poured abundantly so that it is adequately supplied with water. An amount of around 10 to 15 liters per watering usually covers the rose's water requirements. If the plant was moved during the vegetation phase, it must be watered accordingly. In order to additionally protect the rose from drying out, it is then piled up. This step is independent of the season, because it protects the rose from the sun in summer and from frost in winter. Piling up is therefore an essential part of care and is structured as follows.

• Spread the earth around the rose with your hands
• about 20 to 40 cm high
• then press gently
• Leave mounds of earth until spring

Tip: You can tell when it is the best time to dump in nature. Hobby gardeners know that blooming forsythias are the starting signal for shedding.

Move potted roses

Many types of roses can be cultivated in the tub and thus on the balcony without any problems. However, these must also be replanted, as the existing tubs usually become too small in the long run. When the plants should be moved depends on their growth. In general, it can be said that it is time to transplant every two to three years. Especially since after this time the substrate is mostly used up. Please note the following when transplanting potted roses.

• Use round buckets if possible
• equally wide at the top and bottom
• or wider towards the top
• Put the plant in fresh substrate

Tip: Whenever old potted roses have grown very large, repotting presents a special challenge. In this case, it is advisable to provide the plant with fresh substrate and fertilize it.