By Samjp
Staffordshire, West Midlands,
United Kingdom 
Taking rose cuttings.
Hi all, could anyone give me a bit of advice on taking rose cuttings now please - never done it before - and whether I could pot them rather than root them in the ground (no suitable spot at the moment.
The rose in question is over 33 years old. It was one of two planted by my grandad (who died 33 years ago). After my nan died end of last year I managed to move one of the roses to my garden (where it seems to be growing well). The second rose I don't stand a chance of digging out, it's in a really awkward position. I had fun and games enough getting the first one out. Anyway we've just accepted an offer on nans house so the clock is ticking if I want to keep grandads roses. If I can't I at least have one, but it would be nice to have them both.
I'm not certain what the roses are. It's a form of bush rose I think, maybe a hybrid tea sort? I have planned to ask for help with IDing the one I moved if it flowers this year.
Anyway, any advice would be appreciated.
28 Mar, 2014
Answers
Thanks Derek. I'll keep digging see if I can find anything which helps with softwood cuttings. If not then I'll see if the new owner will let me take cuttings later in the year. From what my mom has said though I'm not sure he will.
30 Mar, 2014
Hello Sam,
I've just seen your query on taking rose cuttings; I have done this in the past as autumn hard-wood cuttings; the first with climber Compassion, this was a success, and one of these is still flowering in my daughter's after 20 years. I tried with cutting from a hybrid tea last year;
none of these rooted!
I talked to a friend Bob, who was head gardener at a stately home for over 30 years about this; he said that you are more likely to have success with strong-growing
roses like climbers than with hybrids which are reluctant
to root from cuttings, and if they do, they wil be too weak
to flourish on their own roots; that is why growers bud or graft.
If you have a photograph of this rose, you could email it
to a rose breeder (David Austin) with a general description, they may be able to identify it for you.
david
7 Jul, 2014
Thanks David. Unfortunately my nans house has now been sold, so I'm a bit late now. I did have a go at taking cuttings but had no luck with them. I thought it was worth a try but knew it was a long shot.
I have at least got the one of the roses. Heavens only knows what they are. They were planted by my granddad a long time ago (he died 30 years ago). The one I managed to dig out seems to be growing well and has a bud on it. If it flowers I'll take some photos. Thanks for the suggestion I will see if someone like David Austin can help to identify it. Two birds one stone I may get them to suggest some new roses for me as well lol.
8 Jul, 2014
Hi, unfortunately the only way I know of propagating roses, is hardwood cuttings in autumn, which you could do in pots, or budding in summer, could you explain to the purchaser of the house, that you would like to take a few cuttings in autumn, and why, it wouldn't make any difference to them, as they would be pruned off anyway, either in autumn or early spring, see if they would agree to you taking some, Derek.
28 Mar, 2014