I have a rose bush in the back yard, under a tree, it seems to be thriving but no one can see it blooming. I want to move it to a more prominent place in our yard. What is the best time of year for transplanting this rose?
Moving your rose out from under the tree is probably a good idea. Roses: 1001 Gardening Questions Answered by the editors of Garden Way Publishing (1989), says that the best time to transplant it to its new location is early spring or late fall. Before moving it, prune it, leaving three to four canes. Prepare the new hole in the ground (and) give it some extra attention after it is planted. This resource says that spring transplanting is preferred, because with warm weather on the way, the rose will have a better chance of starting new growth. When digging up your rose, dig a circular trench one foot away from the crown of the plant, removing the soil around the plant with your shovel. Loosen the root ball, and then take hold of the crown and push it back and forth to loosen it. Then lift it out of the hole. Dig a deep hole in the new location. Add two inches of compost, build a mound of soil, and spread the roots over it. Fill in with topsoil, make a ridge of soil around the base of the plant, and water well. Afterwards, water carefully, neither too much nor too little.