When it's dormant, Whistonlass. It should be pruned back before it's dug out, too, and as much of the rootball as possible dug out. This may prove difficult if the rose is getting on a bit - and I hope it survives the move. The new planting hole will need to be ready to receive it, too - it shouldn't be left out of the soil too long.

Tell your friend to get ready to dig down a good depth - the roots on a rose often seem to go down to Australia ...

Thanks SH....I looked under roses on the site here and noted the advice was to move them in March (after danger of frost has passed) so with your info and the info given under 'roses' I'll pass this along to my friend. Ta very much :)

I've just had a reply back from my friend and she says she has to move the rosebush now and it has a lot of sentimental value to her. Not sure what to suggest to her as I reckon if she moves it now she will lose the plant. Am I right to assume that?

Oh. just went to post this reply and noticed you had replied too, Bamboo. Ta very much.

I'll show my ignorance here (blush!!)....I wonder, could she take a cutting from the rosebush as she's so desperate to try and save it? Maybe I need to contact 'meerkat.com' eh? lol

She could try to move it now, but if its been in many years, I suspect she won't be able to get the long roots out intact, so it'll be touch and go whether it survives whatever the time of year. I know next to nothing about rose cuttings, except that my father was always sticking branches in the soil and rooting them, but most roses are grafted onto a strong rootstock, so what you get when you take the cutting (if it grows) isn't such a stronger grower

Yes, she can cut pieces and make a trench - just heel them in and leave them there. They take up to a year to root, so patience is needed!

Why only March? November is a very good time to plant roses - the 'big' names send out their bare-rooted plants then.

Posted at the same time, Bamboo - at least we agree! :-)))

I've passed all your info on to my friend and also suggested a site I found with a google search. I think she's going to take some cuttings in case the bush doesn't survive the move. Ta again :)

You (and she) are very welcome - and please say good luck with the move and the cuttings. :-)

Will do, SH. She's cautiously optimistic :) fingers crossed.

Well, just to help, my Father moved some roses from Blackpool to Somerset in August and they were over 40 years old. All of them survived and they were out of the ground for a few days too!

Green fingers, obviously - and going to the BEST County, Ob!!! LOL.

am i right in believing roses get shipped often with bare root balls . i got a climbing rose of my old art teacher .it was boiling hot and realy she was quite brutal getting it out including knocking most of the soil of .i thaught it would have know chance but its 30 feet up in the tree . im sure thow i was very lucky and it wasnt that old realy when i got it .the little white flowers smell lovley on it . its good for burgler proofing a fence to .