Transplant shock occurs when a plant, such as a rose bush, is purchased from a nursery or greenhouse, taken home and then planted in the yard. The outdoor environment is very different from the protected atmosphere of the greenhouse. To help avoid transplant shock, gardeners often take proactive measures to encourage growth and root stimulation. But even when well thought-out planting procedures are followed, transplant shock still can occur. The following suggestions can help to minimize the overall effect on the plant.

Aspirin

Give your plants aspirin water. Dissolve one aspirin tablet in a gallon of water and pour it over the shrub, covering all affected foliage and thoroughly soaking the surrounding soil. Repeat every 14 days until the rose bush has completely recovered. The beneficial effects of aspirin, a derivative of willow bark, on human tissues is well known. When placed under stressful conditions, roses and other plants produce salicylic acid, which increases the roots' capability to take in water. With transplant shock, salicylic acid is being manufactured, just not fast enough to alleviate all of the symptoms. The salicylic acid found in aspirin bolsters the function of plant tissues, reducing the effect of shock.

Compost

Fill a burlap bag with mature compost or well-rotted manure. Close the bag and place it inside a bucket or tub of cool water. Leave the bag in the bucket for one week, adding more water as needed to ensure the bag stays fully immersed and stirring occasionally. After one week, remove the bag and pour the compost tea over and around the distressed rose bushes. The nutrients in the compost will bolster the health of the struggling plant, encouraging new growth and helping the shrub achieve a full recovery.

Relocation

As a last resort, dig up the rose bush and move it. If the light or water conditions are simply wrong for your particular type of rose, you may have no choice. Wait until late fall or early spring, when the plant is dormant. Carefully dig the bush up, disturbing the roots as little as possible. Then replant the rose bush, correcting as many of the environmental stressors as possible in the process. Water the rose bush thoroughly after replanting to help the roots compensate for any water loss caused by the unintentional destruction of tissues.

Source:

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Rose Pruning and Care Guide