Can I replant new rose bushes on ground where I have previously been growing roses?

Yes, as a general rule. However, if you are able to remove some of the soil, and replace it with new, dig in lots of well-rotted manure and home-made compost, you could get away with it.

Tracey what level of disease did you have with your present roses? If it was high then its a real risk. You say you have a rose garden (not a bed) that would be a lot of soil to remove/replace?

This soil removal thing has now been completely alleviated by planting with a product called Rootgrow. It's a "friendly" fungus that colonises the roots of the plant for the rest of the plants life. It completely stops any problem with rose replant sickness. David Marriott from David Austin Roses told us that it effectively creates a secondary root system around the roses own roots giving better nutrient uptake, a degree of resistance to the effects of drought and the above mentioned protection against the pathogen that causes replant sickness.

Interesting, Fractal! .Thanks for that :-))

Or maybe Michael Marriot Lol!!! Hopeless with names. Just checked and it's definitely Michael Marriott who gave us the tour.

Or Fred? or George? or Albert? or Charles?

Only joking.....sorry....Tsk, tsk.

Lol. Here he is...

http://www.davidaustinroses.com/english/Advanced.asp?PageId=1929

I've heard tell, Fractal, that this product is not as effective as the sellers claim - fact is, rose sickness doesn't always occur when planting new roses where old have grown, it's just a possibility, so I wonder how efficacious Rootgrow actually is. I know someone who's used it and unfortunately, the rose succumbed anyway. Is Rootgrow a version of the mycorrhizal fungi thing? It's certainly pricey.

It is a mycorrhizal fungus/fungi as there are several species in the packet. It does go a long way as a £3.99 sachet should do about six roses easily.

Interesting that someone has still had problems. Perhaps is was another problem? Ah well, until concrete evidence appears and trials show otherwise, I will still advocate it's use. :-)

ps there is another makers version out there that is 50p cheaper for the same amount.

I was the one who told him to buy it when he replanted the area - I'm still wincing now... Do tell, what's the other make called?

When I ordered some roses recently they recommended this even in a new rose bed. But I found I cannot buy it locally I was told 'you dont need it' - they dont seem to rate it?

I'd agree, you don't need it normally, though they try to sell it all the time - I heard about someone who'd spent loads on it on recommendation of garden centre when he planted new hedging, cost a bomb with all those plants. I still think its worth it if you're chancing planting a rose where one's grown before, though, Drc

No I have not grown them here Bamboo

Fryers Roses of Knutsford swear by it, they re-plant in their fields of roses with no problems after using it. I too have heard rumours but still use it with no problems. Rose sickness is something that even the experts aren't certain about. When I swap roses I replace the soil, sterilise the hole and use a good amount of 'Rootgrow' I do all this because if you get it wrong it will take months to find out. If you don't do it right the rose will never pick up.