How to Dig Up a Rose Bush Without It Dying

Water the area around the rose bush for five to 10 minutes for the five days prior to digging if you’re digging it up during the growing season. This will help maintain the soil around the roots. Water isn't necessary if digging during the dormant season.

Prune the rose bush with pruning shears to remove any dead, diseased or weak branches. Place a piece of burlap or a large sheet nearby to place the rose bush on after it’s dug up.

Dig a wide circle around the rose bush with a long-bladed shovel. Start the circle approximately 18 inches away from its base. Angle the shovel blade slightly toward the center of the rose bush, and step down on the shovel firmly to cut cleanly through roots.

Dig around and under the rose bush until you can lift it cleanly from the ground, keeping as much of the root base as possible. During the dormant season, shake the soil from the roots and place the bush onto the burlap or sheet. During the growing season, keep as much of the soil with the roots as possible and wrap both the soil and roots with the burlap or sheet as quickly as possible, and then dampen with water.

Remove all leaves and trim the branches back so they're no longer than the roots. For example, if the roots are 18 inches long, trim the branches on the rose bush to 18 inches. Trimming back the branches reduces the load on the roots as they reestablish in a new spot; the roots become stressed trying to supply moisture and nutrients to long branches and leaves.

Transplant the bush to its new spot as soon as possible.