READER’S QUESTION

I WANT to move a 13-year-old climbing rose, Compassion. When should I dig it up? Also, it’s pretty big, so how hard can I cut it back? Mrs J. Harding, Essex.

COMPASSION is a robust variety with large, fragrant, pink blooms which are produced from June to November.

At such an age, your plant will be difficult to dig out and may not transplant successfully. Even if it survives, recovery will be slow.

you would get far quicker results by buying a new rose and planting it around this time.

you can buy bare-root varieties like Compassion for less than £20 from specialist nurseries, such as classicroses.co.uk.

If you choose to transplant yours and it fails in its new spot, any replacement will be susceptible to rose sickness.

so why not bid your old rose a fond farewell and plant its replacement in fresh ground?