Moving a rosebush advice please!

[Nicos]

My OH wants to bring back his mother's favourite rose bush from the uk (she died in the summer)

We don't seem to have much success with roses, so this plant needs a fighting start to cope with the move!

So ...Any advice please?

No idea of the variety but it's about 8ft tall, a bit spindly and the red flowers are about 3" in diameter and seem(from memory) to be very open and have about 3layers of petals.scented, but not very strong.
I'm pretty sure it's a fairly old variety...(she pinched a piece off a plant about 30 years ago from an established plant )

the choice is to move it now or in April.
how much to cut the top and roots back?
To we move it barerooted?

and nope, I'm pretty sure I'll not manage to grow cuttings ...although I will try aswell for a back up!

[Thelma Sanders]

Dig it up ASAP with as much root and soil attached as you can, make clean cuts across any damaged roots.
Wrap it well to keep the roots moist(customs may not like it if soil can be seen)
Cut the top down to about a foot and prune out any spindly shoots and any obvious dead wood - leave only 3 or 4 strong ones. If there's the option keep thick green stems, instead of gnarly old ones as they'll reshoot more easily than old wood
Replant with some compost/manure if poss.
I'm a great fan of using Mycorrhizal Fungi when moving old plants, I really do think it helps them grow a strong new root system.
I've had success with just cutting off lengths of stem about 18ins long. Cut the top accross and sinking the bottom half in a deep pot of gritty soil and just leaving them under the hedge for some protection from the cold. Mustn't let them dry out though. Good luck!

[Nicos]

Thanks Thelma....much appreciated!

[Jimny14]

Pretty much what Thelma said. I did one last winter like this and it survived so far, either that or it's done its last hurrah of flowering before it dies, we'll know come spring I guess. Good luck with the move nicos.

[rary]

Well what Thelma said is ok in Britain but I think you would be stopped if the customs see any soil round the roots, personally I would cut everything down as Thelma said to about 12 inches but would leave all the stems, including the old ones, lift and wash the roots, (hose the roots down) and do this now dont wait till spring, plant as soon as you are home, and in the spring once you see growth cut back to four stems.

[bramble]

Same as Thrlma said but I would leave it until April whrn the growth kicks in.
I have rooted two cuttings from an old rose budh I have.
Put them into a mix of soil and grit.
Prune the stem on a slant snd plant into the soil on a slant.
Wondering if the variety is Super Star.
Good luck whatever you decide Nicos.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Here's what I would do, and it's pretty much a mixture of what everybody else as said.

Firstly I'd do it sooner rather than later, hack it down to about 12 to 18 inch tall leaving 4 or 5 stems in a goblet shape cutting just above an outward facing bud, dig the plant out and hose down it's roots, wrap in wet newspaper then pop it in a plastic bag sealing with an elastic band to keep the roots moist.

Keep some of the stems you have cut back, again 12 to 18 inch long and bury them in little cut furrow in a protected part of the garden, out of cold and wind, I would plant the mother plant in a large pot with a mixture of home made compost, mpc and a slack handful well rotted manure, sprinkle the roots and planting hole with mycorrhizal then once it starts to put on new growth plant it out in it's desired position, then get on you knees and prayer to the west!

But all the best with it Nicos!

I'm a "Glutton" for sentimental valued plants!

[More basil]

Might be too late but you can move plants freely within the EU, soil and all. Here's the guidance from the RHS.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=435

[Nicos]

Thanks for all the advice!
We had to take it as we may not now be going back until June now....

Cut back to about 18" , roots trimmed and hosed, growing tips were trimmed off and are now sitting in compost.
Hole dug and I managed to get Mycorrhizal Fungi which was spread liberally over the roots and in the hole.
Planted on top of compost and then very well watered....surface covered with gravel to try and prevent too much evaporation in the summer.

Cross yr fingers peeps...and many thanks for the advice...sorry if I didn't follow everyone's advice though.

Any other suggestions now as what to do feedwise etc?

[Jungle Jane]

Roses love manure my dad always says

[Nicos]

Would it be too rich for a bush pushing out new roots?....we use homemade compost.
I'm sure I could find some composted cow poop ...

[More basil]

Perhaps a bit of good old fashioned bonemeal for phosphorous for root growth- there usually isn't much in manure. And a plant invigorator to boost it once it starts growing as it will be weak and more likely to catch something nasty...

[nickdub]

Would it be too rich for a bush pushing out new roots?....we use homemade compost.
I'm sure I could find some composted cow poop ...

Wouldn't put any fresh manure near it. The main thing is to keep it well watered in the summer. You could foliar feed it with something like a seaweed spray if you wan to encourage faster growth.

[rary]

Just a reminder that roses like a slightly acidic soil so manure is ok, remember don't add lime to them