Moving with roses

4 years ago

Hello, It's been awhile since I've been on the garden forum. I have a bunch of neglected gardens but also have decided that hopefully at this time next year we will be moving. I was looking for advice on how to move with plants. I have a lot of gardens and I am closing them out and giving away extra plants to friends. I know my gardens would not be an asset to potential buyers and I am hoping to take a lot with me. I have small roses, baby lilacs, baby peonies, and irises that I want to take. I know they have to be out of the ground before the house goes on the market. I'm not sure when to dig up and pot things up. If the fall would be too late or if I should do it now. Any advice would be helpful. Thank you!

Featured Answer

BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)

4 years ago

I had just finished moving about 90 or so plants, mostly roses in the ground, but also peonies , phildelphus, hibiscus, jasmine, and various other plants. If you can do it while the roses are domant, that’ll probably be best. I like to prune the tops quite severely (to 5 inches of the base) so the roots can support the transplant. Some of these were huge established 8 ft x 5ft bushes, and I still pruned them to 5 inches. Get as much of the roots as possible. You’ll likely need to hold over the roses in pots until the new house is ready for planting them. I like to use fabric pots (sold on Amazon) they are cheap, come in large sizes, breath well and are easy to carry.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
4 years ago
What zone and State are you now, and where zone and State will you be moving? That will matter for helpful answers.
Lisa Uzanas thanked Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
The other question to ask is do you have any experience growing things in containers for an extended period of time? They take a lot more time and care.........
Lisa Uzanas thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
Related Professionals
Tulsa Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Myrtle Beach Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Bangor Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Toledo Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Salt Lake City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Hartford Landscape Contractors · Redding Landscape Contractors · Edmonton Landscape Contractors · Hot Springs Home Builders · Palm Bay Home Builders · Texarkana Home Builders · Virginia Beach Home Builders · Rockford Home Builders · Fort Wayne Home Builders · Manhattan Home Builders
Lisa Uzanas
Original Author
4 years ago
Hi, I am in Connecticut zone 6 and I will only be moving about 20 minutes away in the same state and zone. I grow a lot of plants in containers. I actually have about 10 roses that were really small and I was stepping them up and they never made it in the ground and also some lilacs and peonies in pots. I've just never taken plants that were established in the ground and put them into a pot.
Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
4 years ago
If they are hardy, I might wait until Fall to move them or put them into pots. That way you can enjoy them this Spring. It is easier that your climate is not too extreme.
Lisa Uzanas thanked Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR
Lisa Uzanas
Original Author
4 years ago
Hi Bent, thank you so much! Yes I just ordered those fabric pots and I'm glad to know they are good. I started to realize this project was going to be expensive and I was glad to find the fabric pots. I'm also glad to know it is possible to move large plants! I planted a huge garden and I honestly thought "good thing I'm never moving" every time I dug a hole!
BenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)
4 years ago
Lisa, I think we are doing very similar moves, where we hoarded treasured plants in our ’forever home’ and then decided we need to move! I wish you the best of luck that those roses get to their new home healthy and happy. One thing I should have done was mound some mulch over the base of the newly potted roses. I think that would have helped them recover a bit faster.
Lisa Uzanas
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you so much!! Yes I think you got it right when you said with the "hoarded treasured plants in the "forever home." Great tip with the mulch too! Thank you again!
sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
4 years ago
The fabric pots are a good idea!

I recently moved tons of roses in pots (with roots grown wayyyy into the ground under the pots). Those are doing fine. I am just watering them more while trying to figure out where the heck to put them all lol.

I've moved some that were planted in the ground, so far. Poor MAC has taken a hard hit! She was just huge and may not recover. The soil here is totally different even though, its in the same state lol. I am praying she recovers.

I cut all my "in gound" roses way back a month or 2 before moving them. I figured this will be easier on them than just chopping top and roots all at once. For the most part, that has worked out so far.

Cooler weather would be the ideal time to move roses but sometimes you just have to go when you have to go lol.
Lisa Uzanas thanked sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)