Here in RI soil does not really become workable till late April. Just hoping thats not to late

When do the rose leaves start coming on the bush in RI?

Here its early to mid April leaves start popping ...Just keep an eye on your soil for workability...

I'm transplanting a bunch now I'm transplanting a bunch now. It's definitely not through late Too late As I normally do it through October. I have also done it when the roses are dormant I prefer to do that with large climbers. Sometimes they don't even know they were transplanted.

I moved a few roses last Fall late...maybe October? I normally would never do that but we were having a fence installed and had to move them. They did great, I was pleasantly surprised.

It's possible to transplant them almost any time as long as you water them in thoroughly, but they handle the disruption much better if you do it in spring when they're just starting to leaf out (such as April). I've moved roses as late as November and gotten away with it, but I wouldn't plan that unless necessary like Prairiemoon said.

Cynthia

I'd do it now, it's a great time to transplant. The plant is slowing down top growth and will put its energy into root growth. If you transplant in spring it might set the rose back somewhat, since it needs a bit of time for the roots to start establishing in the new location; in fall, its focus is on root establishment/growth and it will hit the ground running in spring.

Do you need to cut them back before transplanting or are they small enough to relocate without any pruning?

No pruning needed. I would do it now.

Dig the holes before bad weather sets in this fall. Have your backfill soil enlivened with a bit of peat moss, or perlite...whatever will make your transplanting easier. Protect the backfill from the weather. Set it aside so that when you neet it, it will be as nicely prepared as in fall.

Dig and transplant the roses in late winter/very early spring before the dormant buds on the stems leaf out. You are essentially transplanting them BEFORE they wake up. Not during, not after, but before.

Watch the stems for the signs of bud swelling...get them transplanted before then. Forget how nasty the weather may be. It's the roses that you are transplanting, not you.

When you go to dig the roses you will see how little soil you can manage to keep around the roots. Roses in your climate send roots out far and wide, and down too. Some roots will have to be cut.

You didn't say how old your bushes are. I am assuming that they have been in too shady a spot for some time. The longer they have been there, the more import it is that you treat the roses with tender loving care, not like a disagreeable chore.

Moses