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| It has been in the ground for 1.5 years and is 3.5 ft tall and about 3 ft wide. Any suggestions how and when? I am afraid of killing it. Thanks |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Choose a time when the weather is mild, the plant has been well watered a day or two before, and the plant is dormant or not actively growing. Cut it back to ~2 feet to reduce the necessity for root support of top growth. Dig it up, trying to preserve as much of the root system as possible. Transplant it immediately into its new home. Water in and wait to apply chemical fertilizer until the plant has recovered from the transplant. Josh |
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| Lee -- You are in CA? If so, this week will be cool, and perhaps even damp. You could do it now, or you could wait for late December/January. This is NOT to get the rose in dormancy, because it won't be. It will be blooming happily. Waiting for cool weather will help to minimize stress. You should prepare your hole for planting, NOW, so as to be able to put the plant directly into its new home. Keep as much of the root ball as you possibly can -- but inevitably, you'll lose some. The plant will experience some shock, but I would avoid a lot of cutting back, unless shock is severe. Keep it well-watered, and see if it doesn't perk up. As Josh cautioned: Avoid any chemical fertilizers until next spring. And I wouldn't even use alfalfa or manures, until it's well settled in. Jeri |
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| I have nothing to add to the superb advice give above, except a word of reassurance. I've grown numerous plants of Mutabilis in different gardens, and have found them to be as tough as an old shoe. Lack of water would certainly kill them, or a gopher eating the entire root system, but with the kind of care your plant will be getting I don't think you have much to worry about. I hope it will grow up to be a big, happy rose in the new spot you've chosen for it. Ingrid |
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| I should have clarified: Dormancy OR not actively growing, not both. I seriously doubt a Mutablis in your zone would ever achieve true rose-y dormancy. Also, as Jeri says, pruning it is not a necessity. Not at this size it has achieved. Josh |
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| No. It doesn't go dormant in Z24. It's blooming merrily, here, at the moment. Jeri |
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| Thanks everyone for calming my anxiety with your great advice. Yes, Jeri I am in CA (coastal SoCal) and she is blooming nicely right now. As always I can count on the wisdom of your collective experiences found no where else! Thanks for sharing your transplanting recipe with me. Lee |
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