How to Remove Rose Bushes for Transplanting If moving the shrub to a new location instead of getting rid of it entirely is the goal, you'll need to approach the task with a little more finesse.

If rose bushes must be moved now, there are ways to mitigate the damage: Dan Gill's advice Answers to readers' gardening questions.

Q: I would like to move a sickly rose from a shaded spot to a location with better sun. Can I transplant now, or must I wait until the dormant season? -- L.P., Buckley Article continues below this ad ...

Strip off all remaining leaves and prune any tall roses back to 4 feet or so before you start to transplant. For best results, promise your roses a new garden patch with rich, well-drained soil ...