How to Move a Rose Bush??

My first thought when I read your title was:

VERY CAREFULLY!!!

I'm not a green thumb so I would follow what Jo W said!!

In the spring dig around the root ball, about two feet from the center all around. Then move it. Make sure you prune it back in the fall so it will be manageable in the spring.

I have some rose bushes which are almost 40 years old....according to our neighbors! We have dug them up time & time again....cut them back....& truly thought we'd killed them off multiple times. Nope! They just keep growing! 20 years of this for us.

I also have 2 of the evergrow rose bushes which are so popular now. I'm thinking that with the size you're describing...that may be what you have. We received ours from an old lady who wanted them out of her yard. They actually survived being dug up, sat in my husband's truck for a couple of days, & then survived our haphazard plunking them in the ground. Pretty hardy, I'd say!

My only recommendation would be: do it now! So they have time to set before winter. Good Luck!

You've gotten some good advice about how to move it. I'd just add to water the heck out of it before you move it and water the hole where you intend to plant it. Start the day before to get the ground good and wet. Don't overwater it after that, but if you're taking it from a nice wet spot to another nice wet spot, it will do better.

Don't water it that much before you move it - plants move better when they are a little on the "limp" side as it allows more bend/elasticity. A plant that just sucked up a bunch of water will be more brittle in the shoots. After putting it in it's new home, do as Susan says and give it a good drink!