Question
We are moving in 10 days. I have two very pretty roses and I would like to take them along. I had planned to have them planted immediately. Someone said this was useless, that the roses should be pruned and prepared to dry out. I never heard of this. Is it correct, and how is it done? We are moving to a retirement home from an apartment complex. I do love my bushes. We are in Tennessee. Thanks so much. Dot.

Answer
Now is a great time to transplant your roses and they do not need to be pruned or dried out to do it.  The reason now is good time, is because they are in dormant state.  The root system is still very alive and growing this time of the year though, so you really want to minimize root stress.  Do not cut too many roots and make sure to dig far enough out from the base of the shrub that you won't slice a lot of the root system.  They will need to go back into the ground as soon as possible and you will want to start feeding them a root stimulator to help develop new root growth. Prune in the Spring down to healthy newly emerging growth.  And keep feeding the root stimulator (B1) throughout the Spring and start again next Fall until winter.