Re Planting A Climbing Rose

Question

I have just replanted my climbing Tequila Sunrise rose from one area of the garden to another. There were no buds formed yet, but quite a few leaves and showing growth. However within a day the top part of the rose wilted. I’ve left it a couple of days, watered, fed etc but its still the same. Should `I now just cut it back to the ground?

Answer 1

Anytime a rosebush is moved when actively growing, it is not without shock and stress for the rosebush. The wilting you are seeing is because the root system is no longer as established as it was when the bush started to grow. So the upper parts of the rosebush are not getting all the moisture and nutrients pushed up to them at this time. The root system is working hard and trying to get established in its new home right now. Once it gets settled in, the upper parts of the rosebush should improve. This does not mean that you will not lose some of those upper parts as that could happen due to the shock and stress the bush is now going through. I would leave the bush as is for a couple weeks more. Water the rosebush with some water that has both a product called Super Thrive and a Root Stimulator product mixed into the same water. Water the rosebush with a fresh batch of the same mix the next 5 to 6 times she needs watering. The super thrive helps the rosebush deal with the shock and stress of the move and the root stimulator helps get the root system going well so it can get established more quickly. If the wilted parts die AND turn brown, then they should be pruned off just down to where green cane material is. Over pruning or pruning too early in this process only adds to the shock and stress of the bush and could do significant harm to the bush. Let me know how things go.
Stan The Rose Man
Master Consulting Rosarian