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RE: winter care

Dear Michelle,

> When is a good time to move her?  

If you wish to move her I would do so now.  If the rains and cold
weather hold you back from the task threw winter, then move her as
soon after winter as you can, before she begins to sprout.

>Do I prune her for winter? 

Generally old roses need little or no pruning, but it is usually
beneficial to prune her back a little for ease of moving AND so that
she can concentrate all her energies back to the roots. I don't think
trimming more than half would be necessary. Even a third would do.

> Do I mulch? 

I would, and water in good. Sounds like the rains will help there.

> The bushes are so dense that nothing growns under them, never
> have to weed.  How do I move a rose of this size?  

Trim what you can before you move, even to just a few feet long if
necessary.   Thick gloves would be a good idea, and perhaps can you
lift up and tie the canes together a bit, without braking the canes. 
More gloves and more hands ?

>You can't tell that
> it was only three plants a year ago, she has sent up so many
suckers it
> looks like solid rose.

Humm... with three years of sending suckers, you may have six+  roses
next year. If you don't want ANY rose it this current place, you will
have to dig them all up. Good news is that suckering old roses (like
Gallicas) usually take well to moving.
 
> For tall roses, how do you get them to stand up without flopping
all
> over the ground?  

You will have to "train" her to a trellis or something. Tying and
re-tying her until she cooperates.  Some just aren't fit for a
trellis, but make a great ground cover type, which is what your
"Bessie DuVaul" sounds like.

>I'm hoping to move her yet this fall before we get a
> killing freeze.

Good idea. Let us know how it go's.

Sincerely,       
Carleen Rosenlund of Rainier, Oregon -USDA-8
Sweetbriar - Keeper of Sheep & Old Roses
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