Cut tops back and dig bare-rooted in November. Cut the roots back also to facilitate and transport also, even if it is just across the street - the plants should look like older, thicker parted versions of the bare-rooted roses at outlets.

If this is too late then cut back and dig before then - although waiting until later would be a lot better.

The ones to be living in outdoor pots in USDA 7 might best be shipped in Feb, if that is at all possible. Instead of being bare-rooted this fall and spending the whole first winter in the new location outdoors in pots, without having grown new roots yet.

A critical point would be just how cold it got there this winter, between the potting up and spring bud break.

An additional aspect to consider is that if these are all named cultivars that are still on the market somewhere - and after 43 years it is possible some of them aren't, esp. if they are types like Hybrid Teas - then purchased replacement examples may in most instances be the same clones that your mother planted. Regardless of where replacement stock obtained at this time was produced commerically. So that it is not necessary to save the same individual specimens in order to have the same genetic material in the new plantings. Because clonal cultivars, when kept bona fide are all pieces of the same first seedling raised by the originator and dispersed by the introducing entity. So for example every Peace in the world, if true to name (the same as the original stock) is in each instance technically a part of one plant. Instead of a separate genetic individual, raised from seed each time (instead of from cuttings or other asexual propagation method), and having therefore a unique presence.

Phoenix Rose Society

http://www.phoenixrose.org/

Can you estimate the time of year of the move? And, approximately where in zone 7b?

The University of Arizona has a pdf on Growing and Caring for Roses. I don't know how to link to it but I found it Googling.

You could take cuttings of all of them that you wanted from her garden. Now is an ideal time for cuttings. Place the cuttings in one gallon pots and they will be fine for a year. Then you can decide what you want to do with them. Don't make it too complicated.

If the roses are budded onto Dr. Huey, the roots can be down to China. Why don't you try digging out one rose that isn't going and see how difficult it is. 43 years of loving care means they will have very impressive roots. Roses of that age may struggle to survive after being replanted.

If any of them are on 'Dr Huey' they're virus infected and should be left where they are. Regarding 43 year old plantings not moving well what I have seen is roses not already in quite poor shape coming back from just about any fragments after transplanting, in the manner of blackberry plants - independent garden centers here routinely cut back the roots of bare-rooted roses very hard when potting them, without lasting ill effect. In fact some of these can still outgrow the retail setting the first summer even with this treatment, if not selling early enough.

Please stop frightening the poor woman. You don't know if they are infected with a virus. It was around 43 years ago but you are only guessing.

I agree with oldrosarian, there is no need to bring anything in about the "Dr" having any virus, why would it have it is my question Embothrium. Lets get the roses moved the best way is the question.

Thank you one and all. I appreciate your insight and encouragement. I'm answering some questions and attaching two links in case it's helpful. Complete Rose Inventory (https://photos.app.goo.gl/LYV8EhG75cqZisa5A) of Mom's rose garden with a number -- perhaps you can help ID and if you can suggest which might be heartier specimens for transplanting long distance (to Phoenix/Zone 9b or NYC/Zone 7b) that would be most welcome. I've also included a photo of the containers they'll go into -- stone ones with irrigation system in AZ; wood container in Manhattan with full sun exposure. 3 of the bushes have only buds and I will add those photos when they've bloomed. Rose Prime (https://photos.app.goo.gl/NHZyoQXjhPAniah28) is an album of the blossoms at their peak in case that adds some information. We're aiming for an early October move, but, may have some flexibility by a few weeks. Many thanks for sharing the breadth and depth of your rose gardening knowledge!

Thank you one and all for your feedback. In case it's helpful, I'm adding 2 links to photo albums. First, https://photos.app.goo.gl/LYV8EhG75cqZisa5A an inventory of the roses with numbers in case you can help ID -- included are photos of the containers in the AZ (Zone 9b) and NYC (Zone 7b). Second, https://photos.app.goo.gl/NHZyoQXjhPAniah28, a collection of the rose blossoms at their peak in case that helps with ID-ing. Whatever recommendations you can offer on what is best left in the Pacific Northwest vs. which ones are heartier candidates for transplanting to AZ and NYC is most appreciated. We are aiming for an early October move but can be flexible by a few weeks.

Roses are survivors and amazingly adaptable. I've transplanted roses under every imaginable condition and they almost always survive providing they still get enough sun and water. I have a 64 year old rose in my yard that has been moved 4 times and is still going strong. I've moved some as early as March and as late as August (in 90 degree heat at that). Kept well watered they've all done just fine. Look at all the roses that have survived for decades in untended farm yards and cemeteries. Roses are not the delicate Prima Donas they're made out to be. They are vigorous survivors!

I would dig them up and pot them and ship them where they need to go asap so that you can get them back in the ground to acclimate before winter sets in. You can pot them but they probably won't do as well as they would in the ground and will be much more difficult to winter over. Although 7b isn't a terribly harsh winter, potted roses do still need more care than planted roses

I would suggest that while you are cutting them back some to ship you might as well take several cuttings, if possible, to try and root some spares just in case. It couldn't hurt.