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Extracting a rose from big pot
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Posted by
huttnem z9CA (
My Page) on
Fri, Feb 8, 13 at 16:55
| I've grown a rose for about 4 years in a very large pot. It's too big and heavy to place on its side to remove the whole rose. I'm giving it to a friend but want to keep the pot. Someone suggested extracting it as a bare root but we don't know the best way to do that if it is even possible. Anyone have experience with this kind of situation? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Extracting a rose from big pot
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| I would treat it as a moving a large dormant rose. Depending on rosé i would,prune down to manageable size. Google the Paul Zimmerman rose advice videos for moving a mature rose. Are the sides of the pot straight? How big is the pot. How big is the rose? Can u just pitchfork down use two, lift up and transfer whatever u get scooped up into another lighter pot for moving? Of utmost importance for the success is the prep of the new hole and waterwaterwater. |
RE: Extracting a rose from big pot
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| Actually...thinking more about this, I would probably try to separate the edge of the soil from the walls of the pot (spade, etc. ) and then use shims or pitchforks to lift up as much of an intact root ball as possible. |
RE: Extracting a rose from big pot
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| Thanks Susan! The pot is about 27" in diameter. The rose is Lady Emma Hamilton. Above the soil and pruned it is reasonably small. It's the roots I'm worried about. The rose won't be immediately moved to a hole but transported to a whole new location. I'll tell my friend to prepare his hole ahead of time. Thanks for the suggestions to use shims and pitchforks and the reference to Paul Zimmerman. Sort of dreading this... |
RE: Extracting a rose from big pot
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| Well, it kind of depends on what material the pot is made out of to determine which of the two following methods might work. I've used a trenching shovel to separate the soil from the walls of the pot. It has a long thin blade as compared to other types of shovels. The most efficient method I've used is to hit the sides of the pot all over with a shovel and this completely loosens the root ball from the walls of the pot. Of course, since you cannot tip the pot on it's side, you can't bang away at the bottom of the pot, but you still may be able to keep most of the root ball in tact. Please note: I've only used this last method with plastic pots. It does work very well. Smiles,
Lyn |
RE: Extracting a rose from big pot
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Lyn,
If it was a plastic pot, it would probably be a lot easier but It's a beautiful ceramic thing. I think I have a trenching shovel. Maybe I'll buy a pitchfork too. I'm thinking once it's removed from the pot, I'll just water it heavily and wrap it without pruning the root ball. Thanks for your suggestions |
RE: Extracting a rose from big pot
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| I was afraid you were going to say that when you wrote that you wanted to save the pot. I'd go with the trenching shovel, too. I've tried other tools, but with the long bladed shovel, I have had the best results in keeping the root ball in tact. Smiles,
lyn |
RE: Extracting a rose from big pot
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| I use a hand saw. They're long and you can follow the outside of the pot to withing an inch or two. Then just lift out and bare root it. If it has been in a pot you might as well take this opportunity to replace the soil. |
RE: Extracting a rose from big pot
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| You guys actually have names for things I don ' t even know exist...same principle, though. Now I want a trenching shovel. Lol....my last shovel experience involved a plastic handle leaned up against a hot grill...not good. |
RE: Extracting a rose from big pot
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I wonder if anyone else would think it makes sense to water it well before taking it out of its pot?
Also, if it's rootbound, won't you need to renovate the roots a bit, so some root loss is expected? |
RE: Extracting a rose from big pot
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| How high is the pot and where is it locacted. You can take a water hose and by using as high pressure a nozzle as you have, simply keep going round and round the edge of the pot and you will eventually loosen it to the point you can lift it out. I have drilled holes in my hard black soil over a foot deep simply using water pressure when I want to take an old rose out without ruining the old root. It is wet and dirty but it works. |
RE: Extracting a rose from big pot
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| A hand saw ? I never even considered that tool. Of course, I don't own one, but I do think it might work. As for watering the plant, I think I would want the root mass to be somewhat dry so that I had a better chance of getting most of it out. Watering it after it has been removed from the container sounds good. Smiles,
Lyn |
RE: Extracting a rose from big pot
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| You can try soaking the pot in a larger container and that will make it easier to extract. You will lose some roots, that's ok. |
RE: Extracting a rose from big pot
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- Posted by hoovb z9 Southern CA (My Page) on
Sat, Feb 9, 13 at 11:08
| I would lean the pot on its side on a mat of old towels or rags and slide the plant out. Get help, if you have a couple of buddies and take your sweet time it should be manageable. If all rose enthusiasts were college age men, rose growing would be so much different. Pizza and beer and helpers would all come running. ;^) |
RE: Extracting a rose from big pot
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| I had some in urn shaped pots with narrow necks (never again). I used a narrow hose nozzle to blast the water out at the sides. I just kept wiggling the plant by the crown until it squeezed out. Poor roses. At least we don't remember being squeezed like that when we are born. They appear to have forgiven me now. This is a good time in the year to try. I thought the water idea was the safest way to avoid damaging the pots and the roses still retained plenty of roots. Be sure to give the tops a trim so you don't have a big top and a small amount of roots. |
RE: Extracting a rose from big pot
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- Posted by seil z6b MI (My Page) on
Sat, Feb 9, 13 at 17:05
| I tip even my largest pots to get the roses out. If it's not near the lawn where it's soft I put down a couple of layers of towels or something to protect the side of the pot and then tip it over. I've never had a problem and I have pots bigger than 27 inches. I will say though that I no longer use any kind of ceramic or terracotta pots for roses. If you want to use it in the future just use the ceramic one on the outside for decorative purposes and plant the rose in a plastic pot that will insert into the ceramic one. Put a piece of styrofoam or some pea gravel in the bottom of the ceramic pot for the plastic one to rest on so they don't stick together and the plastic one can drain better. Solves a lot of problems. |
RE: Extracting a rose from big pot
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| Using a saw, water pressure, a pitchfork - never ever would have thought of these methods. Thank you all for your suggestions. We can experiment now to see what works best. ^_^ |
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