Question
Can I transplant shrub roses from my Milwaukee home to N central AR? It is mid August??

Answer
The only time a rose bush will survive being moved is when it is dormant and that is in the late fall or early spring. Any other time you take a big chance of it dying. However if the rose is important to you then this is what you can do but it may not save the rose.
Water the rose well and then plant it in a large pot, cut it back to 12 inches tall and take all the leaves off. When you get to your new home, place the pot in semi shade for the rest of the year. The plant will look sad but keep watering it until late fall. Then put it in a sheltered pot in the garden. Early next spring, plant the rose in the garden and again water well. If you are able to take it with you and plant the rose bush right away, then just follow the same instructions above, but put it in a plastic garbage bag with wet newspaper, planting it as soon as you can.