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How to train climbers

7 years ago

Below are some examples of how you can train climbing roses.

Comments (38)

  • 7 years ago

    Around an obelisk. This is a young rose. Do not plant the rose in the middle of the structure, but next to it and tie the canes around it. The job gets more involved as the rose grows. Then I cut the flowering laterals to about 3 bud eyes.



    Along a fence. Just fan out the main canes and tie them to the fence. I do not cut back the flowering laterals on this rose because I have a lot of space.



    Sometimes you have to get creative. I often use old branches which I have here, using larger branches as the roses grow.



    The rose below is technically not a climber but it does produce flowering laterals when trained this way. The rose is about 4' from the branches and I just bring the canes forward and attach.



    Rebar is great. Here I put the rebar where I used to have a large rambler which died. I brought some of the canes from another rose and tied it to the rebar. I think this will help hide the big space the rambler left behind.

    This rose is just starting to leaf out so you will not see any laterals yet.


    Hope this is helpful.

  • 7 years ago
    Thanks for the tips! I have just put in a lot of baby climbers so helpful for me to see your climbers. I would not have realized not to put rose in middle of obelisk but now that you mention, it makes sense to not “trap” the rose in the center for pruning and maintaining. I don’t have a lot of space so all my climbers will be carefully trained and pruned to be narrow against fences and walls. I have zero room for them to grow out away from walls/fences. Once you trim laterals to 3 bud eyes how does this progress over many years? I am assuming you aren’t cutting main canes down to the ground each year but leaving the main canes alone. Is that correct to assume? I suppose in part depends on the specific type. I keep reading not to prune teas and China’s too much. I only have two teas that I want to train up and thought I would train as tall narrow bush. I have James Galway that I want to train on low fence.
    altorama Ray thanked Stephanie, 9b inland SoCal
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I never cut back the main canes except to cut out dead or diseased wood. I do find that I have to keep on top of the laterals once they finish blooming. But I would always leave the healthy main canes alone.

    I only have one Tea, MAC and it is easy to train, but I am not sure about yours, just start training when the canes are still young and pliable.

    Hope this helps.

  • 7 years ago

    Very helpful thanks!!!!

    altorama Ray thanked pippacovalent
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Excellent topic. We just put in our first climber yesterday. This one was easy because the trellis is attached to the wall.



    My question is on this one.

    We bought this trellis at Lowes. It is very thick and sturdy, 60" above ground and 1 foot below ground. We stuck it in this spot, wedged between two old tree stumps. The stumps are dead but I thought they might provide some additional stability for the trellis. We would clean out all the raspberries you see coming up and then plant the rose about 2 ft in front of the stump. Do you think this will give the rose roots enough room? I'm concerned were going to find alot of roots to dig up when we dig the hole but since it is a dead stump maybe they will become rose food? What do you think of this plan? Will we need to further brace the trellis with line and tent stakes as the rose grows? We are planning to put Lady in Red against this trellis.



    altorama Ray thanked mmmm12COzone5
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    mmmm12, what zone are you in? Lady In Red will be against the white trellis?

    Was the tree removed because of disease?

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    We are in zone 5, Denver Colorado.

    Fourth of July is against the white trellis.

    Lady in Red will go against the black metal flower pot trellis. The tree was cut down because we didn't want it there. It was probably a large bush and not a tree. It had been dead for about 4 years.

    altorama Ray thanked mmmm12COzone5
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I reinforce all of my trellis with rebar and attach with rebar wire. I hammer the rebar in 6 to 8" sometimes more.

    Dig out as many roots from the tree/bush as you can, the hole should be at least twice the size of the rose's root ball.

    I am not sure how large Lady in Red will get in your zone but I think it may require a larger trellis. Or you can add onto it by putting rebar on either side.

    http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=2.78266&tab=36

    You will find photos of Lady in Red here. The description states it gets 8 to 10' tall but may not get so tall in zone 5.

  • 7 years ago

    Thanks! The rebar is a good idea.

    This is the trellis we bought.

    https://www.lowes.com/pd/Garden-Accents-Trellis-20-7-in-W-x-72-in-H-Black-Daisy-Garden-Trellis/1000176991

    I guess if it gets too big for this one then we can just add some additional panels to the side and make a bigger one. They did have wider ones but I really like the look of this one. Especially since we have no idea how big Lady in Red will get.

    altorama Ray thanked mmmm12COzone5
  • 7 years ago

    Yes I meant to tell you I think it's a really cool trellis!

  • 7 years ago
    Altorama, great thread. How far is your trellis from your fence ? or shall I also ask how far is your rose from fence ?
    Thanks !
    jin
    altorama Ray thanked Plumeria Girl (Florida ,9b)
  • 7 years ago

    That big rose is about 18" from the fence.

  • 7 years ago

    Thank you, altorama Ray, for this invaluable information.

    altorama Ray thanked monarda_gw
  • 7 years ago

    Altorama, thank you but can you tell me what is this on your branch ? Sorry I zoom in and snapshot it.
    You are giving me ideas and thank you so much. I bought like 4 of this rods for gardening. I bought it on impulse and have no idea what to do with it. It is very new to my side of town in HD. So, I bought 4 of them. They are nearly 8 ft long and thick.
    When I saw how you used rebar and tied to branch I thought about what I got handy.
    Thanks again
    jin
    PS - if you have any suggestions I am all ears :)

    altorama Ray thanked Plumeria Girl (Florida ,9b)
  • 7 years ago


    Do you mean the thing hanging on it? It is a small mirror.

    As for the posts, you could make a tripod with them and use it as an obelisk. Or, you could space them out 6" or so and add rebar wire securing them horizontally and use that as a trellis.


  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I took this photo of the antique damask rose Ispahan being trained in a similar way on bamboo stakes at the Brooklyn Botanic garden last week. It's not a climber but a sprawling shrub. To tell the truth I don't know how they do it. The canes must be very flexible.

    altorama Ray thanked monarda_gw
  • 7 years ago
    Thanks :)
    A mirror, Ha ! I would never guess that one. Thanks for a tip. I have time since I don't have any climbers except one which is growing against a fence.
    what I wanted was sold out so I have to wait till Nov for Whitherspoon to ship out since their last order was April 23rd. I wanted Collette but it was out of stock :(
    Thanks for a tip !
    jin
    altorama Ray thanked Plumeria Girl (Florida ,9b)
  • 7 years ago

    No problem Jin!

    Monarda that is an excellent picture!

  • 7 years ago
    Mornarda, that is beautiful. I am so glad you took a picture of it. I will be zooming in to see how they did it.
    I love to get Ispahan or even a Kazanlik but I am not sure they will survive here. I always wanted those roses :)
    jin
  • 7 years ago

    On the flower trellis - maybe consider buying 2 of the 24" lengths of rebar, pound them into the ground next to the trellis & attach with pipe/ hose clamps. This should keep it pretty stable.

    altorama Ray thanked Dingo2001 - Z5 Chicagoland
  • 7 years ago

    Plumeria Girl, I think it would work on any lax shrub, though I, too, have some doubt about whether those in particular would thrive in your climate.

    altorama Ray thanked monarda_gw
  • 7 years ago

    I just realized I forgot to post pictures of climbers on an arch, I will try to find some pictures. But it is basically the same idea, tie the canes a bit horizontally until they reach the top, then pull the canes over the top and secure. I need to find some pictures to better explain how to do the sides.

  • 7 years ago

    So here is Veilchenblau on a DIY arch. It is an easy rose to train with pliable canes, so on the side they are trained in an S shape and then pulled over the top. Of course the arch is too narrow being only one branch so the rose kind of hung down a bit but that wouldn't happen with a proper arch.



    The next year after the rose grew quite a bit longer.



  • 7 years ago

    I actually have a bunch of different new climbers this year, and I don't think I'm getting any of them support until they appear to need it.


    Not sure what I will do though. I'm trying to form a very tall hedge, so I think obelisks might be best to keep them tall and wide as possible?


  • 7 years ago

    monarda that is a fabulous picture, very very interesting! You might consider even posting it a help me find under that rose. I'd love, love to see a picture of the same rose in a few weeks when it's blooming. I ran across a website a few weeks ago--and now can't find it, of course--of a gardener in the UK at one of the public historic houses who winds and bends the main canes in all kinds of circles and swoops. Talk about a gluten for punishment (or pain) but it was spectacular looking.

  • 7 years ago

    JC you could get some trellis, I think it's about 4' tall and at least 6' wide and secure it with rebar too, if you want a privacy hedge. They sell them at Home Depot.

  • 7 years ago

    subk3, that is Jenny Barnes.

    The designs are extraordinary.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago


    Lol typo!


  • 7 years ago

    Subk3 I agree with your suggestion about HMF

  • 7 years ago

    jc_ YES! that's her. Here is here instagram. Scroll down for her climber pruning! https://www.instagram.com/niff_barnes/

  • 7 years ago

    That's impressive!

  • 7 years ago
    Subk3, thanks for the link to Jenny Barnes. Wow those are some amazing pruning jobs. I love the very ordered nature of that style, but probably a lot of work.
  • 7 years ago

    What a great thread. So much to learn.

    Altorama, your Veilchenblau is spectacular. I ordered mine last year after seeing your photos.

    I am in awe how Marlorena trains no less than 3 roses on a single obelisk. I'm still afraid to try just one, fearing I'll snap the cane, as it often happens.

    Monarda, that's how they train Ispahan at Sissinghurst. I saw the photos from there long ago and can't find the site where it's explained how it's been done there. This is the only photo I can find through an image search right now:
    https://teddingtongardener.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/img_0887.jpg?w=411&h=&zoom=2
    https://teddingtongardener.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/img_0888.jpg?w=411&h=&zoom=2

    I have Ispahan and cannot imagine how they can do it because there are quite a lot of small thorns. Please post the photo once it's in bloom, if you have a chance.

    altorama Ray thanked vesfl (zone 5b/6a, Western NY)
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    They must have someone very expert. The climbers are trained similarly. It is very simple & elegant. I wish I had had a clue when planting my climbers. They are too big and stiff now and my arch is tilting severely. I just winged it.
    Here are some actual climbers at the BBG's Cranford Rose Garden.


    Cadenza 2nd pic

    Jasmina -- looked more substantial in the summer, wonder if winter damage?

    Jasmina 2nd shot below - I was impressed by Jasmina last June, albeit not tall - Still not tall. Short climber? Anyway, shows how they start it going up. All photos from April 14, 2019.


    altorama Ray thanked monarda_gw
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Jasmina same plant, June 10, 2018. Not tall but quite floriferous. Flowers small, hanging heads. I think it may have been raining. I was smitten, to tell the truth

    Close up of blossom.

    altorama Ray thanked monarda_gw
  • 7 years ago

    On another forum a few years back Stephen Scaniello told me they would sort of braid the canes at BBG.

  • 7 years ago
    I was at Huntington Gardens today and noticed more closely how they trained their climbers. Here is a good example taken today, Cl. Pompon de Paris, where you can see the canes. Many of the others have too many leaves now.
    altorama Ray thanked Stephanie, 9b inland SoCal