"Ric@rdo" wrote in message
5.254...
Hello all,

I've been reading URG for a while now, after moving into a new house with
a
large garden, I thought I'd better take an interest in gardening if I'm to
keep it all under control.

So, my question to the group is: there is an area of the garden that is
currently planted with various roses, it's a little overgrown but not too
bad. What we want to do is to turn this into a vegetable plot and
transplant the roses elswhere in the garden. Is this possible? will it be
successful? how am I best to go about such a task?


Assuming these are "normal" size plants.


Wait until winter, or at least until all the foliage has died off,
so there's no water loss from the leaves.

Loosen the soil. As you want to use that part of the garden for vegetables
you're already half way there, as you'll presumably want to loosen up all
the soil really well with a fork in any case.

Take out as much root as possible with as little damage. Rather than simply
digging down a set distance around each plant with the spade - say 2ft and
hoping for the best try - loosening the soil close to the stem and locating
the roots with a hand fork if necessary and tracing them outwards.

Although some authorities recommend a thorough watering beforehand - unless
there's been a drought don't. Wet soil sticks to the rootball making it
heavier
and more awkward to handle - making it easier to damage the roots.
Whereas crumbly drier soil will fall away more easily showing the
full extent of the roots.

Ideally you should have the planting holes dug first, although
with the first one or two you probably won't know what to expect
and how big they'll need to be. Try holding the each plant in position
over the hole with the roots fanned out as afar as possible and feed
sieved loose soil through and around the roots thus filling the
hole. Avoiding air pockets under the root ball. When the hole is filled
start firming it in and afterwards give the plant a good watering.

If you've got any well rotted compost or similar there's no harm
in incorporating some in the planting hole. However wait till spring
before giving each plant a dressing of rose fertiliser. Any powdered
fertilisers added to the planting soil might cause a salt imbalance and
dry out the newly planted roots. And thus the plants.

Wait until there are signs of life next spring - by which time the roots
should have fully recovered, before doing any pruning, so as not to give
the plants too much of a shock at the one time. And very few
plants die simply through lack of pruning, for one or two
years at least.


michael adams

....











Your ideas and any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Ric.