How to Train Unruly Climbing Roses

For increased blooms, train climbing roses horizontally.

Despite the misleading name, climbing roses don't climb. Unlike vines, they have no tendrils or suckers to attach themselves to surfaces. It's up to the gardener to provide the support structure and attach the climbing rose. An unruly climbing rose requires more training.The first two years involve minimal pruning. Use a few basic techniques for training the climbing rose for a tame and profusely blooming climbing rose your can be proud of.

Things You'll Need

• Fence
• Umbrella trellis (optional)
• Soft material such as pantyhose
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Train the climbing rose along the top of a fence or other horizontal support to encourage the most blooms.

2. Add an umbrella trellis or other solid support. An umbrella trellis allows the climbing rose to spread horizontally for copious blooms. Wet the ground and push the trellis stakes deeply into the ground to stabilize the trellis.

3. Cut the pantyhose or other soft material into strips at least 6 inches long. Tie the structural canes to the fence or trellis at 1-foot intervals. The long green canes of the rose bush are the structural canes.

4. Train climbing roses on a vertical trellis, if necessary, by tying the first 5 or 6 feet of the canes vertically and then bending the canes to one side to create a horizontal line of growth for more profuse blooming. Tie only the structural canes, not the offshoots.

Tips & Warnings

• Provide air circulation for the climbing rose. Don't grow it flat against a building--place the trellis at least 2 inches away from the structure.

• Plant roses where they will receive at least six hours of sunlight.

References

• North Carolina State University: Pruning
• National Gardening Association: Training Climbing Roses