subject: Climbing Roses - A Few Things To Keep In Mind [print this page] Climbing Roses - A Few Things To Keep In Mind
Any gardener who grows climbing roses, which come in various forms, will enjoy the added enchanting beauty that they bring. Just like any other rose variety, growing climbing roses is quite simple. They do very well when tied to a trellis, fence, shed or wall since unlike other climbing plants, they don't have their own solid support. Here are a few simple considerations for establishing vibrant climbing roses.
When considering growing climbing roses it is important to also consider where to plant it, location, and the type of trellis or support structure needed. As far as location is concerned whether a rose grows as a climber or a bush does not make much difference in the need for good sunlight exposure. Of course the rose that climbs has a better chance of picking up the sun higher up and is not so much affected by other plants near it growing up and possibly shading it out.
Once rose's canes have grown long enough to reach the support, trellis or arch, train the branches to grow laterally, spacing them some 20-30cm from each other to create a kind of a fan shape. Attach the shoots to support wires with string, plastic straps, or burlap ties, taking care not to make them too tight. Roses trained to grow horizontally often produce more blooms than climbing roses which are made to grow vertically.
The structure needed is dependent on whether you are growing a heavy or a lighter type rambler rose. Really common sense needs to prevail and once you have chosen your favorite climber and researched how heavy it tends to get you will have a good idea of how sturdy the support needs to be. There are many different structures to choose from. For example, for growing a climbing rose on the wall of your house you can just use hooks in the wall at suitable intervals and some sturdy wire.
Climbing roses flower over a long period during the warmer months, they do not need pruning often and once established they are very hardy. All in all they are easy roses to grow and very pretty. Growing climbing roses is definitely a must for rose gardeners.
