This spring I dug up my favorite hybrid tea rose to move it to another location just a few feet away. But for whatever reason it's not thriving at all there, just staying low and static. Is this a bad time to dig it up and find a better location or should I just bite the bullet and wait until spring, hoping it survives the winter? Thanks.
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Tip of the Week: Don't mulch for winter too quickly
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November: November Garden Calendar
It takes time
There's an old saying about roses: The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap.
The first year after being transplanted, the plant is spending most of its energy growing its roots, which is why it doesn't seem to be doing much right now. If the plant appears alive, even though it doesn't seem to be putting much new growth on, I wouldn't worry about it. Just give it time. Once the roots are large enough to support top growth, the plant will start putting on more new leaves.
Moving roses in the middle of the growing season often kills the plants. Most of us don't realize how huge (and delicate) the root systems are, and we sever the plant from fine hairs near the actively growing root tips, which is where most of the nutrients and water the plant uses comes from. It takes quite a while for those roots to reestablish. In the meantime, the plants expires from not getting enough water. If you must move a rose, it's best to do it when the plant is dormant in the early spring.
Meg -- Johnson County Extension Master Gardener
Whew
Thanks for the peace of mind. I'll let it sit. It's definitely healthy, just small and non-blooming.