Moving a massive old rose.

[SirVixofVixHall]

I need to dig out a huge rose bush that has rooted into a wall that needs restoration. I don’t know what the rose is, maybe a wild one ?
Today I pruned out much of the dead underwood and cut back a lot of the growth fairly brutally as it has long arching branches with shoots springing up from these. To move and re-plant it I think I will need to make it much smaller, it was probably around 12 feet or so wide, I have cut it back by about four feet but it is still an unwieldy beast. I very much want to save it if I can. Any advice ?

Haven't done this myself but we were gifted an old rose last autumn that we are hoping will burst into life in spring. It was pruned right back to about 2ft from the ground before moving. Haven't seen any signs of life yet but very much hoping it has settled in OK!

(It is also huge btw)

No matter what you do, it may not take. Any plant/bush or tree that has been in the ground and established for a long time do not like being moved, it shocks them. Good luck and I hope it takes but be prepared that it may not.

Tbh roses are past their prime from 7+ so I'd not bother. A professional gardener I used to work with always said they hated to be moved and were best replaced past 7.

@Gogglebox20 argh you're right! Ours might not have taken. What signs should I be looking for and when ? (novice rose owner here)

Look for new shoots in the spring/ early summer. If nothing there’s a good chance it hasn’t taken. If there are some don’t expect much in the first year or so but keep pruning back in autumn and it may get its second wind. You’ll certainly know over two years whether it will or not. Contrary to another post, one of our rose bushes has got better with age so it all depends on the type and the soil in your garden. Good luck!!

Thank you!

If you haven't already, try and =root some of the bits you've taken off, as a back-up

Yes I will try and take cuttings today, there is still a huge amount to cut back before it is moveable.
Also has made me think I had better take cuttings from another very old rose of huge sentimental value.
I am not sure I believe the seven year thing though. I have a large rambler in my garden that was here when I moved in 13 years ago and is now better than ever. Also a climber I put in about ten years ago which is really getting into its stride now. I lived in a house years ago that had a massive rose with the thickest trunk I have ever seen. I think it was many decades old, and it would be literally covered in huge pink scented roses every Summer, it was incredible.
The roots of this rose I need to move go into the wall so digging it out might not be possible, shame as it has been there for so long and is thriving. I feel cruel cutting it down !

I once had to move a very old rose in June - terrible timing! The one thing I’m convinced saved it - an internet tip I read said the root ball would be damaged in transit and I should turn on the hose to a trickle and put it on the base of the rose for a full two days after moving and then a few hours a day for the next week. It worked and survived!

That is very helpful thank you. I have remembered that I once rescued some roses from an old cottage that had been bulldozed. The roses had literally been bulldozed out and were lying on the ground in a very hot July. Totally wilted and looked dead. My mother told me to stand them in water and hose them down repeatedly, two out of three survived. I hadn’t thought of that as it is so cold, but maybe the same applies.