Yes, birds enjoy hips, and you might too.

If it is a true once-bloomer, heavy pruning now will prevent spring bloom. The time to hack is immediately after the June bloom. Most rambler roses can stand to be cut down every year, but we don't know exactly what you have.

If you cut it down to the ground you will have more uncontrolled growth from the base. It is much better to work with the rose rather than against it. Decide where you want it to grow, against the fence for instance, and leave those canes. Cut out those that grow towards the walkway and save those that grow towards the fence. Tie the canes you are keeping to the fence with twine. By the time the twine rots the cane will be old enough to remove to make way for new ones.

You are correct that this rose probably blooms on the previous years growth. All the canes you have saved against the fence will bloom next year. Try to tie the canes in as they grow as the wood is much more pliable when it is green.

hi again,

thanks to you both for your helpful responses. i did suspect that i might lose the blooms if i do it now, so i guess i will wait until next year. it is so out of control now that to try to remove some canes and not others would be almost suicidal! i think i will try to just tame it a little for now for everyone's safety :), and then do more next year.

i wish i knew what it was, i do know that it blooms on old and new wood, because the season after i cut it to the ground it still bloomed. maybe next year i will take and post a photo to try to i.d. it. what is the major difference between a climber and a rambler? i just assumed it's a climber because of the size of it. some of the canes are at over 10ft long, tucked in along the top of the fence.

anyway, thanks again!

emmgus -- What color are the blooms????

Jeri

hi jeri,

thanks for asking - they are very full, pale pink blooms.

Well, that lets out 'Dr. Huey.'

Jeri

Does it have shiny pretty leaves and no scent? Could be Dr. Van Fleet or a descendant?

Here is a link that might be useful: Dr. Van Fleet

Could also be Odorata Understock, which will bloom well after being cut down in the fall. I had to do that to mine because we had the house fumigated in Feb. and it came back like gangbusters, and bloomed all spring.
Jill

hi again!

thanks for the link to dr. van fleet. i took a look, and the blooms on mine are more full, and also, it does have a scent. thanks anyway!

i'm going to ask the woman that we bought our house from next time i see her if she remembers what it is, if she even planted it. her family lived here for almost 50yrs when we bought it 4yrs ago. i have a feeling "the monster" is almost that old, if not older. i dug down to get a look at the roots a few years ago after i hacked it down to nubs. i had been thinking about moving it, but the roots were so huge and fat, that i changed my mind!

thanks for trying to help i.d. it, sight unseen!

I can reiterate the advice you were already given. You are stimulating growth by cutting this rose back. You can limit growth by pruning less. It sounds as if you need to train the rose, not prune it. The canes do not require a free rein to grow wherever they want. You can bend and train the canes to your will. Using sturdy rope, you cane secure the base of the canes, out of walkways. I urge you to read about training climbers. It does take a little expertise in addition to pruning.

Surely this rose is next to a fence or other structure. It is 50 year old plant, a venerable organism that wants to survive. If you only knew how many struggle to find such roses in your zone....