I'd wait for spring.

October. Preferable the second half of the month. You want it to start going dormant before the move, then the move shoves it into full dormancy.

I transplanted/moved several roses last year at different times. A few I moved from containers to the ground midsummer and a handful were relocated in September. All did wonderfully. I think being in a cold zone makes it a bit less draining on the rose when transplanted due to the less direct rays from the sun?

I'd wait until the first part of October. Plants move best if they are dormant or moving into dormancy. Plan on watering the plant well after moving it -- keep the soil moist (not wet!) if the fall rains are late. Plants need about 6 weeks to get thoroughly rooted for winter. Figure out when your local earth is frozen solid and count backwards. If you move a large enough root-ball, you can plop the whole thing in quite late; the rose will be OK and it will work on rooting here in Michigan until the middle of December or so. Remember that mulching the ground will keep the frost away for a while.

If you want to get part of the job started earlier, you can dig the new hole -- fill it with mulch or straw (the easiest to remove) and put the removed dirt on a plastic tarp or empty 5 gallon bucket. If you don't, the earth will "melt" back into the ground by the time you need it. Also, you can root prune the rose now to help it grow more roots within the root ball. To root prune, take your shovel and cut straight down about 12-15" away from the rose's main stem; make a circle. Don't rock the shovel -- you just want to severe any roots outside the circle. Water the rose well afterwards.

Good luck, and happy gardening!

when i mail ordered roses.. they all came in spring.. so spring would be my default ...

on the other hand.. most stuff sent bare root in spring is actually dug and stored for winter to be ready for spring shipping ..

when it all boils down ... in our MI ... winter can be a desert ... when we cant water frozen ground ... or near frozen that we fear might freeze.. if we pour water on it ...

so im back to thinking.. early spring.. as soon as the soil is workable.. and as long before they break dormancy as possible ... which is usually around 4/1 for us ...

ken

ps: im not sure i believe in root pruning plants .. that is inflicting multiple severe stresses over a number of growing seasons ... sounds counter productive to me..

but if it works.. and youve been doing it forever.. all the power to ya ...

If you can be guaranteed to get a lot of dirt on the roots, you can move pretty much any time. The problem is you won't know until you dig it up. I usually prefer to move plants in the fall so it gives them time to grow roots over the winter when the plant has far lower water needs. But, I've moved in spring with good success too.

I think you guys have convinced me to do it in the fall.