Worthwhile Digging Roses?

[ShadyStump]

Came across a local listing of someone wanting what appear to be some fairly well aged rose bushes removed from their yard. Free for the digging. I have to assume they want them gone soon, but we're at the height of summer here; pushing 100F today.

I have no experience with rosa as bonsai, but I've seen some BIG trunks on them times they've been dug up after years.
Do you feel like it's worth it at risky time of year?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Yes.
Just make sure you dig deep enough because most of their root systems are pretty fragile from what I've found. I dug just two, but they went a foot down.
They lived for a year and then collapsed.

I've seen root stocks come back from the dead after years though, but those weren't dug up.
They can be kept in shade for the rest of the year to recover. Although they're sun lovers, without proper roots they burn easily and they perform okayish in the shade.

 

[ShadyStump]

Thanks!
I'll have to see if they're still available.

 

[Colorado]

I think you should go for it! We have some 50+ year old roses in our yard that my wife and I dug up from her parents property. They have some really cool, gnarly forms.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Thanks!
I'll have to see if they're still available.

Please do, I love the trunks on them and they make great neagari. They have thin bark but the wood is pretty strong from what I can tell so there might be some awesome deadwood in there. I've seen very nice shohin roses, but I think cultivars matter when it comes to that.
I think the flowers scale to size, especially on what we call 'wild rose'. They resemble cherry flowers more or less, and I've been eyeing a couple for the past years.

 

[yenling83]

I'd go for it if the trunks were nice. Better time to do it would be early spring, but if now is the only time, i'd go for it and would think you'd have a decent success rate. I'd put them under shade cloth after the collect and use pure sifted pumice.

There are some really beautiful and simple Japanese varieties of Rose that are great for Bonsai. I'd get the Rose trunks healthy and then consider grafting in the future. Fun project, good luck!

 

[ShadyStump]

I messaged the listing party, but haven't heard back yet. Hopefully soon.
Looks like there's a total of 7. Out of that many I should have some success. A few are the long whip sort of growth; not the best for bonsai but I could bet on rosehip jelly, and that's good too!

 

[August]

I think you should go for it! We have some 50+ year old roses in our yard that my wife and I dug up from her parents property. They have some really cool, gnarly forms.

I had no idea that those roses in your front yard were so old! Are you going to dig them again for the move?

 

[Colorado]

I had no idea that those roses in your front yard were so old! Are you going to dig them again for the move?

Yes they’re coming with us!

 

[rockm]

I had a multiflora rose bonsai for a while. It had a pretty massive trunk--which is the only reason I had it.

I wouldn't get another one. The multiflora was a hassle (and sometimes painful) thing to deal with. Sent up canes and sucker growth all over the place. Almost as bad as wisteria. FWIW, it's roots were anything but delicate. It was tough.

That said, multiflora tends to want to be a vine and is more wild than ornamental roses. Some ornamental roses send up canes and aren't "ramblers" that clutch and claw at everything in the backyard. There are hundreds of ornamental rose varieties. Some are ramblers, some are bushes. Stay away from the ramblers!

 

[ShadyStump]

Well I haven't heard anything back, so it's likely a moot point now.
Still, all good info for the future. Thanks, everyone.

 

[bwaynef]

Here’s a trunky rose.