If you can get 18 inches you're doing better than I can. The more the better but 18 inches will do. Since it takes a while for the roots to begin to grow again I would cut the rose back as well.

OH! Thank you! If I cut back the New Dawn, will it still bloom this year? It's JUST beginning to send out baby leaves, but we're having cooling again this coming week. We're so far ahead of schedule.

When I transplant shrubs and floribundas they usually do fine that same. While I've never moved a New Dawn my best guess is that it will need a year to reestablish. But others would know more than I do. As far as cutting it back its because there won't be enough root to supply food for a large rose. I guess it depends on how big she is right now. Once again I hope someone else answers here. There maybe people that have moved climbers early in the year and did not need to cut back. The only other thing would be too water the rose very well the day before you move it. That is if your soil is not very moist at this time. Have your new hole ready for the rose and water again after moving.

Whew!!! Well, one down and one to go. I dug the holes yesterday, thank goodness and the soil was in perfect shape. I don't remember it being so hard last time and I didn't even have help then. It was a bear, but I think I got most of the very large roots at least 18" long and was able to dig up a huge rootball with the original soil and the small feeder roots, so hopefully that will help. It's all watered in. I could have really used a bulldozer. I'll report back how things progress, but would still like to hear any one else's advice and/or experience. I have to wait till the next clear day for the other one. Thanks, Patty W. p,s. Any advice on other climbers?

Your New Dawn will bloom this year for sure. I transplanted 3 New Dawns last year and they all put out 3 flushes the same season. Solid rebloomer for sure.

Glad to hear you got it done. I worry something terrible about transplanting. I've never lost one but that doesn't stop the jitters. Cynthia on here has some gorgeous climbers. If you do a garden web search for (Climbing rose for zone 5) then scroll down a bit she has photos of them on that post.

Thank you PattyW and braverichard. That's great to know your experience. I seem to remember no problems last time, but it was in the Fall so I wasn't expecting or hoping for much rebloom. It is nerve-wracking because these roses are so old and beautiful. However, they were growing straight onto the lawn.... I think they got moved during some landscaping a few years ago, so I'm just putting them back where they belong! :) We had cool temps and gentle rain all night which meant I couldn't replant its mate, but probably good for making sure it "takes". I'll be sure to update.

The hardest part, besides the sheer size and weight, was avoiding the thorns on those whip-like canes. It's still worth it as nothing is lovelier. People always ask about my roses and only one neighbor can even see them!

p.s. Thanks also for the correct search terms. Haven't seen Cynthia's yet as I got lost in the maze of posts!

So far so good! I have some little tiny new growth and the original leaves look just the same ie. no wilting. I have one more to go as I got a new freebie plant from a buried runner. I guess I can just plant that the same way? Now if only it would stop raining. :)

Fantastic! :-)

Yeah!!! Two of the three transplanted NDawn are budding out! I guess that means they're happy. The third one isn't quite as good. It's initial growth got frozen back and then some of the leaves have gone yellow. Maybe I'll post a pic. I'm sure it will survive, it just doesn't look as happy as the other two. A small cane-rooting that I moved last year is looking super healthy and is also budding. This is thrilling. Should I fertilize the one that was moved last year or just leave it alone. I didn't really prep the soil to the same extent, although my soil is pretty good.

I bet organic rose fertilizer or alfalfa meal or pellets wouldn't hurt and may help.

Thank you Sheila. I just got some alfalfa hay to put some around the established roses. Can I put it on the newly transplanted ones as well, or is it best to wait? I'd hate to set them back. I'll post pics of the one that's lagging.. I think it's just transplant shock followed by the cold snap, but if the alfalfa will help them all, I'm game.

I think the alfalfa hay should be fine on a transplant. It's natural and shouldn't hurt, may help the soil.

Yeah! First flower of the year on New Dawn and it was the last one transplanted 6 weeks ago when I first joined this forum. It was also a self-rooted "freebie". I just love this rose and am so happy to have it spread around the beds. I may post wider shots when they all come into bloom if they hide my disintegrating balustrades. The buds are thick. The MWood bareroots are also coming along and both have set a bud.

in general, transplant as much root as possible, however roses are typically easy to transplant so if you do lose some root, cut back the bush to balance out the root loss, if leaves start drastically wilting then remove them all but a few and your rose bush should come back out within a few weeks and bloom the following year

This is such a timely post to discover. I am giving away my New Dawn to a friend after it blooms. I love it dearly but it's planted outside my porch door and I've been snagged once too often for it to stay there. Will be planting Viking Queen instead.

My question is: how short do I cut the stems. I'm going to try to get as much of the rootball as I can manage, but the rose is a bit of a monstrous octopus at the moment and I'm actually a bit fearful that I'll be a mass of ragged flesh when I am done.

i know it's a bit late to transplant but our weather is still quite cool.

Oldworldroses, I didn't cut mine back at all because I wanted blooms this year and I've always read ND blooms on old wood. These plants have a single huge stem and are old. I only showed a tiny bit for the bloom. I would try to contain all the stems somehow maybe wrapping them in something puncture proof. (Yeah, right.) I did cut one back that had rooted a couple of years ago, but it has taken until this year to give good bloom. I dug out about 18"-24" of root, pushed them onto heavy plastic and then dragged them to their new beds. For me the thorns aren't a problem; mine are against a balustrade so they catch on the rough concrete and don't require tying except to train them.

Funny you are replacing it with Viking Queen. I just planted one at the far end of my balustrade. I wanted a deeper pink to coordinate with the ND so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I also planted another one to climb a very plain wall. Sounds like we both have high hopes for VQ in our Ohio valley gardens!:)

Thank you for your advice vaporvac. I've already told my friend not to expect any blooms this year as I was sure I was not going to tackle long canes. Seriously my ND is wide and with a gazillion canes. It's in it's 4th year and it's a scary mass. I tried training it against a trellis but it's a nerve racking process with a lot of swear words involved. I'm kind of sad though and feel a bit guilty every time I look at it. I keep wanting to apologize to it.

i am going to plant VQ where ND was, against a south facing wall ( actually a very broad stone pillar of the porch) so hopefully the heat from the wall and an old taxus shrub should be good protection. I heard that it's a healthy one and I don't spray so hopefully it'll work. I also have a Compassion coming in from Heirloom roses.

where in Ohio are you? Your color combo sounds lovely. I love pastels.

I hope you'll post pics when the VQ is up and running and maybe a
farewell pic of the ND in its Spring flush. I just love that rose and
hope mine becomes "a scary mass" once again! :) I think growing it
horizontally eliminates some of the issues often encountered, ie
wrangling the canes, dead-heading and pruning out dead wood, plus it
really encourages all those lateral shoots.Now I'll have to
research Compassion and see how it would fare here in Cincinnati.

I love
the pastels with blues and purples and silvery foliage and am looking
forward to the drama of Munstead Wood in the mix. However, I am planning
for a "satellite" bed with some yellows and apricots. Who could resist
the recent pics of Sonia Rykiel, Augusta Louise and Monlineaux
(http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3885221/molineux-a-blooming-machine?n=25)?
I'm viewing every inch of southern exposure with new eyes as I'm also
smitten with Tipsy Imperial Concubine and Wedding Cake is out of
control! I need to stop reading this forum!!!

A woman after my own heart:) my garden is pink, blue, lavender,white and pale yellow and more recently a sprinkling of peach. I love my under planting of geranium Rozanne.

last year though, I added Kashmir and Drop dead Red in a sunny bed of perennials where I felt that bright light was washing out the pale colors. My first foray into red. Kashmir is super prolific and rudely healthy. I would love to add some English roses but they seem very needy and I am certain they will defoliate in our August humidity. Munstead Woods seems to have good reviews here though. My local garden center carries a few David Austins but I'm a little afraid to commit to it. I ,instead , drool over my Peter Beales book of roses set in English gardens. Yes this forum makes you greedy. I really have no space left to plant but every year I squeeze more in.

I commuted 2 years to UC so I'm familiar with Cincinnati. We go up to Hyde Park all the time.

Sorry to post more pics of my ND, but it was so pretty today with the pink colouring more apparent. I just love this rose, thorns and all. I tried to get a wide shot, but it blew out to white and lost all the detail. Even the one that underwent the most shock and freeze is loading up with buds. I can't wait for my new Munstead Wood to bloom and finally see "the plan" come together.

Vaporvac I'm so happy that your rose did so well. Heavens to Betsy, post as many photo as you can I for one never tier of rose photos.

Love the balustrade.

I agree with Totoro, your balustrade rocks (pun intended)! Can you backup and give us a shot of the whole balustrade portion of your garden? I'll bet its a feast for the eyes.

I agree with Totoro and Moses, in rereading this it was the first thought I had. What a beautiful looking balustrade for your rose.

You guys are too sweet for complimenting my balustrade. I'm reluctant to post any pics as it's not quite ready for prime time. there are a few wider shots sprinkled about in other posts. Besides the New Dawn and 100 yr. old Yuccas, the plantings are new. It's been lot of work, but will be so worth it. can't believe how beautiful it's becoming with the help of everyone here.

We'll wait.

Vaporvac, there is an old Spanish mission style home in town here. Captures my imagination every time I drive. It's very old and in need of repair but I see the beauty in it, There is a walled side yard cries for some old roses to be placed against it. Not sure why I said this just love that old house.

I know exactly what you mean. I love these old stones whatever their condition, but not everyone sees it that way. : ( It's funny how certain things capture our imagination and don't let them go. youngster we lived in upstate NY and there was beautiful old Spanish style house with iron gate and beautiful pergola with a magnificent wild rose garden. I always said that is the house for me. While mine is different, some parts have the feeling and my friends call it the "hacienda".

The beautiful house I loved was bought by Maureen O'Sullivan and she lived there many years until her death.

Thanks again for the 'rah-rah'.