Question
I have 4 small rose bushes that have been in the ground for 4-1/2 years.  I want to move them to a different place in my landscape just because I want them closer together.  It is now April first, and I live in zone 7 which is unseasonably warm right now.  I pruned them all about a month ago, and they are responding with lush foliage, though none of the roses have buds yet.  Am I too late to move them?  Since I have had them 5 years I surely don't want to lose them.  I know transplanting can be traumatic to any plant.  Any advice you can give is appreciated.

Answer
The best time to move a rose bush is when it is dormant and that is usually early spring or late fall. Our weather is throwing all the rose rules out the window. But once the roses are putting out new growth, the move can set them back and even kill them. What happens is that when the frail feeder roots are disturbed or torn off, they are unable to take the nutrient up the canes and that is why the rose struggles and usually dies back. However if you could get a large root ball then the feeder roots would only be damaged a little and they wouldn't die.  All I can say that if these roses are important to you then it really is too late to move them. Hope this helps.