Question
QUESTION: I have just bought a house with an out of control yellow banks rose (have just identified it this spring now that it is blooming) It has about a 3 to 4 inch diameter trunk and has apparently been pruned repeatedly but not since I moved in last september. It is growing next to a fence & gate - but at the moment is obliterating everything and I am not sure what to do with it.

ANSWER: If your rose is blooming now, you must be where the winters are mild so the rose doesn't get any dieback. Lady Banks rose is a VERY vigorous rose and is almost impossible to keep down to a smaller size. Normally this rose grows naturally to about 20 feet tall and 8 feet in width. You can of course, prune it back hard, but if you live in a warm area, it will still grow to around 15 feet. If possible, you could bend the new canes and make an arch out of a few canes, over the gate. Then tie down some of the other branches to the fence. However if you feel it is just too big where it is growing, then you can cut it right back to 6 or 8 feet and try and transplant it. The other alternative would be to take a few 8 inch cuttings from the ends of the canes and make a new bush, which you could then plant where you wanted. Get back to me if you want to know how to take the cuttings.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I live in coastal Virginia - it did lose it's leaves over the winter -I'm not sure if that is considered 'dieback' or not.
What would be the best time to cut it back & transplant it - and yes, I would like to know how to take cuttings as a precaution in case it doesn't transplant successfully! Thanks for the info!

Answer
The best time to move any rose is when it is dormant and that is when there are no leaves on the bush. Cut Lady Banks back to 6 feet tall, have the new rose hole dug and ready and then try to get as much of the roots as you can. The ones near the top are the most important as they mainly provide the water and nutrients, the long tap roots are used as anchors and you can't help damaging those when you dig it up. Plant it right away and WATER WATER WATER every day to keep it moist but not wet. Lack of water is the main reason roses die when they are moved. Keep this up until you can see the rose making lots of new growth. here is how you take cuttings to make a new rose bush. Take at least ten cuttings, as not all will strike. Try the pop bottle or baggie method first.
http://www.rooting-hormones.com/rose.htm
More information for you.
http://www.hartwoodroses.com/Articles/rootingroses.php