| Hello, I recently transplanted a white rose. I've had this rose for 5 years, and it's a hearty florabunda type, but shortly after the transplant the entire rose went into shock, and really looks bad. It's been a week now, and all of the leaves are turning brown and withered. I've been watering it regularly after the transplanting, but it doesn't seem to make any difference. Would cutting it way back help it at this point-in-time? You've given me very good advice in the past, and I'm sure you can enlightened me as to the problem. Don't hesitate to give me the bad news as I've already accepted the fact that it doesn't look like it is going to make it. But before I give up I need to hear it from an expert. Thanks for your help, Sincerely, Alix |
| Glad you've found our advice helpful in the past! The bad news with your transplanted rose bush is that you chose to move it during the hottest months of the year so it is naturally going to show some stress from the move. Just for future reference, the best time to move roses is in the winter when they are dormant, or in the very early spring while temperatures are still cool and growth is just beginning. But, since you've just recently moved your rose I think there's still hope, it's just that it will spend several weeks trying to recover from the shock. During this stressful period you can expect to see wilting or even dropping leaves. The rose bush is spending all its time trying to re-establish its root system and considered the leaves to be expendable at this time. Until it settles in it probably won't show any new growth. The best thing you can do for it now is to water it deeply once or twice a week. Don't prune it at this point - you 'll just stress it more because pruning encouages new growth. When the roots are established you'll see new growth. I think it will settle in and you'll see new growth, but probably not for a few months. Just continue to water it on a regular basis and plan on waiting until January or February to prune it back. By next spring it should be ready to grow for you. Good luck with your landscape! |
