How to Plant and Train a Climbing Rose

By Susan M. Keenan

One of the most colorful and beautiful additions that can be made to a garden is the climbing rose. A gardener can exercise loving care along with a few skillful strategies to send the rose into areas untouched by the beauty of a vibrant bloom.

Select a color for your climbing rose that will blend with your existing garden. Even if you have a wild medley of color, some colors are better suited next to other colors. Once you have your rosebush in hand, the strategies begin.

The climbing rose produces shoots of two natures. The main shoots are long structural canes from which the smaller shoots grow. Care must be taken to properly support this cane since it supports the remaining shoots. Consider where you are going to place your climbing rose and plan accordingly.

Since climbing roses produce more blooms when the structural cane is in a horizontal position, consider running the structural cane along a fence for maximum beauty. If this is not an option for your garden, then carefully select a trellis that is sturdy and appealing.

When selecting your trellis, think ahead. Realize that the bush is going to grow considerably. Mother Nature is also going to play her part bandying the roses about in the wind and drenching them in the rain. The trellis needs to be strong enough to support the rose bush during those moments.

Additionally, unless the trellis is constructed from the right materials, it may experience some decay and trauma of its own. Consider the durability of the trellis before making your purchase. It is much more difficult to replace an existing trellis than it is to install it initially. Also, keep in mind that at some future time, additional pruning will be necessary.

Once you are ready to begin, assemble your tools and materials prior to actually beginning the work. This allows the task to move smoothly from one facet to the next without any distractions. The materials and tools needed for the job include: climbing rose, trellis or fence, shovel, pruning sheers, fertilizer, and plant ties.

Install the trellis first. Anchor it firmly. Once the rose bush begins to grow and put on weight and the winds begin to blow, the trellis must be strong enough to support its weight.

The placement of your trellis should guarantee enough room for air circulation and maintenance of the rose bush. Therefore, place it a few feet away from any permanent barriers. Also, attempt to place the trellis in a sheltered spot away from the wind.

When planting the rose bush, dig a hole that is twice the width of the spread of its roots. The hole should be two feet deep. The center of the hole should be centered approximately 18 to 30 inches away from the supporting trellis or fence.

Be sure to drape the roots and carefully cover them with loose soil. The graft union, or part of the rose bush where the top of the bush, the flowering canes, joins the bottom of the bush, the roots, should be planted slightly above the soil level in warmer climate regions. For colder climate areas, the graft union should be placed 2 to 6 inches below the soil line.

Next, deeply water the rose bush. It is best to cover the immediate area surrounding the bush with compost and a rich fertilizer. Water the rose bush a second time. Top off with a layer of mulch, taking care not to smother the trunk of the bush.

Now, tie the structural canes to the support structure. Use plant ties that are flexible or stretchy in material. Attempt to tie the canes on in a horizontal manner if possible. Leave some space in between canes, attempting to balance them evenly on your support structure. Any broken branches should be carefully removed with the pruning sheers.

For the first few years of growth, gardeners can allow the rose bush to grow freely. Take care to remove dead growth. Moreover, any broken branches should be carefully removed as well. Once your plant has been established for several years, prune overcrowded canes to the base of the plant as well. Also, as new structural canes grow, tie them onto the trellis firmly.

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