When can I replant my hybrid tea rose that is currently planted in it’s pot in the ground. It has been in the ground (in it’s pot for 2 years) and is about 3-4 feet tall. It is planted in in a garden not near trees (near daisies and hostas and gets about 5 hours of sun each day.
Thank-you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners with your question about transplanting your rose. It looks like a lovely, healthy specimen!
While you will need to be careful in transplanting a rose this large, the sooner you do it the better for the long-term health of the plant. The best time to plant (or transplant) roses is in the early spring when they are dormant. The plant experiences less stress at this time than if it is actively growing. The fall is also recommended by some gardeners but in this case I believe that you need to give the plant as much time as possible for the roots to begin to regrow in their new environment before winter sets in. The big issue you face at this time of year is to ensure your plant is very well watered during the heat and drought of summer. Because buds will likely be removed when you prune to reduce the size of the plant, you will end up with reduced flowering this season. Waiting until fall would allow you to enjoy normal flowering, but will increase the risk of a problem in over-wintering the newly transplanted rose.
I am inserting a previous Toronto Master Gardener’s answer to a similar question, since it includes a good description of the procedure for planting at this time of year:
Roses can be moved during the growing season if they have the right amount of water. You want to water deeply before transplanting, so all the cells of the rose are as full of water as possible. This lessens the demands on the roots. Again, dig far enough away from the root ball that you do not damage the roots and are able to take as much of the root as possible. If the rose is wilting when transplanted it may not survive. You can elect not to cut the rose back letting it decide how much of its top it can support. It will tell you by wilting at the tips, which is a sign to increase watering. The material that does not recover within a few days of liberal watering needs to be removed at that time. Prune any dried or dead material from the plant. Or you can elect to cut the taller canes down to a manageable height before digging it up. Some prefer to match the height of the rose canes to the size of the root ball, which is acceptable also. Again, wait until there is new growth to resume regular fertilizing. Always remember that fertilizers need water in order to work; fertilizers are essentially salts and can burn your rose if enough water isn’t applied. It is good practice to water the rose both before and after applying any fertilizer.
Your garden area seems to be suitable for the rose in terms of light and aspect. You may wish to amend your garden soil with compost so that your rose gets a good start in its new environment. When you remove the rose from its pot, be sure to gently tease the roots so that you can spread them in the planting hole.
Good luck establishing your rose in its new garden home!