2 Ways to Safely Transplant Rose Bushes of Any Age

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You will occasionally want to move a rose bushthe better a bush can feed from the soil.
from one location to another, but fear shockingThe second, and less simple way, is to prepare
the bush too much and having it die. However,the rose for the move by digging a trench in
here are two effective ways to minimize theearly spring in a semicircle round the bush at a
shock to the bush so you can successfully moveradius of a foot, or slightly more, from the stem,
it to another, more suitable place in your flowerdepending on the size of the plant. This will cut
garden.the roots in that part. Fill the trench with loam
The first, and simpler way, is by driving a spadethat is of good quality but does not contain
down vertically to its full length of blade aboutfermenting manure of any type. A network of
twelve or fifteen inches from the bush andfibrous secondary roots will form and permeate
repeating the process in a circular form until allthe rich new soil. After three months, about
lateral roots have been cut. This should be done inChristmas time, complete the circle in a similar
June or early July and the bush should be movedmanner. In the autumn, about four months later,
two or three weeks later.the bush can be lifted with a good ball of earth
Dig a sloping hole leading to the vertical spade-cutsheld together by a mass of fibrous roots.
on one side, remove some of the surface soilThe rose bush has been safely root-pruned in
round the bush to reduce weight, drive the spadeeither method of transplanting, and will reduce
under the plant, and gently lift it in a ball of earth.shock ensuring the plants survival. You may be
The ball can be made more adherent by wettingwondering why you would need to use that
and dabbing the outside of it. Slide it into its newsecond, more involved method, when the first
hole by way of another sloping cut, fill the spacesmethod is so simple. Well, the only time it is
round the ball with friable soil and water it heavily.necessary is when moving a very large old rose
The bush must be pruned and all leaves carefullyplant.
clipped off to reduce loss of moisture andSo now you have 2 great methods for
consequent shrivelling.successfully transplanting rose bushes. Although
You see, by cutting any strong root at ayou don't want to do it very often, feel free to
reasonable distance from a plant, it forces theget your flower garden just the way you want it!
growth of many smaller ones of the feeding type.Happy planting.
Roots feed only through their terminal points, and