A question about growing a rose up a tree trunk

5 years ago

I had an old dead eastern pine removed this winter. Well... mostly removed. I was unhappy with the idea if losing that verticality and also, I wanted to leave a dead snag for the wildlife and had some vague idea of growing something up the very tall stump. My very tall stump is still bare. but is about 3 to 4 ft in diameter and around 8ft tall. It gets partial sun (dabbled light throughout the day except on it’s northside). Branches have been removed so it is like a really big pole.

My questions for you all are multifold. Would this set up be at all condusive to growing a rambler? How would I go about supporting/training it to the stump, and finally, if the proposition is not too insane, what roses might you recommend for this sort of spplication?

The tree is very much dead, but entirely sound so attaching fasteners if some sort is definitely an option. Also, the dead tree is no risk to anything around it.

Featured Answer

jacqueline9CA

5 years ago

I would just pant a climbing rose which grows in partial sun (get LOCAL advice from your rose society or others nearby re which roses would work in your area/climate) in the sunniest spot you can find near 2-3 ft away) the tree stump. Then, put a string or small rope from the rose to the tree stump. As the rose grows and gains height, tie it to the string or rope, and repeat, until it is touching the stump (they have proven that climbing roses will react to actually touching a support by climbing up it). Then, every time it puts out longer canes/growth, tie them higher up on the stump, and continue with further growth. Then it depends on what is surrounding your stump. If there are taller trees nearby, and you have chosen a tall climber, don't be surprised if the rose jumps over to a nearby tree and continues up it, until it reaches the canopy. If there are no trees (or buildings) within reach of a rose leaping from the top of the stump, you might want to use a shorter climber, or wrap it around the stump, as starchild did.

I have sent several roses up trees this way - most of them eventually have reached the canopy way at the top of the tree (20-30 feet, or in one case it jumped over to a neighbor's tall pine tree and continued up. Climbing roses on trees DO NOT need to be tied up the whole way to climb - they evolved to climb up trees without human help - you just need to get them started.

Or, another idea - we have a HUGE (about 5 ft in diameter, and 7 ft high) scarlet oak stump in our front garden, surrounded by nothing but bushes, and the fence between it and the neighbor's driveway. Great view of the neighbor's house, unfortunately. We got a MOON GATE shaped trellis thingy, and my DH built a raised bed around the stump, and put the trellis over the tree stump, and grew a rambling rose on it. Here are the before and after pictures (WHAT neighbor's house?):

Jackie

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Comments (10)

Cat
5 years ago
I'm growing a new Dawn rose which climbs up an old tree stump. U can run it up in a barber pole fashion so it crosses back and forth. Have another rose Im growing up a maple and one up an old apple tree. Go for it!
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Markay MD-Zone 7B
Original Author
5 years ago
The moon gate looks beautiful.
jacqueline9CA
5 years ago
We got it from the Kinsman Co catalogue - they have lots and lots of trellis type things -this is the largest.

Jackie
kitasei2
5 years ago
I have a rambling rose (super excelsias) growing in a great tangle up the bare trunk of an ash tree. i put a nail or two in to hook an tie the first canes but it quickly attached to the trunk snd itself. It’s about 8-10 feet high now. i do no pruning except for the occasional cane that’s in the way. Consider a rambler if you want a more natural look.
Embothrium
5 years ago
Most ramblers grow a lot taller than 8 ft. when supported. Otherwise it's a matter of providing something the rose can hook onto by itself - unless you like grappling with long thorny stems on a recurring basis. Something that imitates the structure of a shrub or tree, that the rose would grow up through if you already had one there. And planting on the side of the stump that the strongest winds come from, so the rose gets blown into the support instead of out of it.
Markay MD-Zone 7B
Original Author
5 years ago
@kitasei2, thank you! this is very encouraging! I am a bit concerned about what will happen when it runs out of vertical space. does yours naturally grow around the tree or straight up it?
kitasei2
5 years ago
As i said, it’s a tangle. and i poke its flexible canes back into the tangle. it does not climb the trunk naturally. i had to tie a few up higher. It is not a slim look..
Markay MD-Zone 7B thanked kitasei2
subk3
5 years ago
I've got American Pillar a Hybrid Wichurana growing up one side of a tree. It's on the east side where it lost a major limb in a storm a few years ago. So, partial shade and morning sun only. It's taken a few years to get going, but I'm hoping to get to the "tangle" phase soon.
Embothrium
5 years ago
None of them climb, they mound up. When the support is another, taller shrub or a tree they send new canes up through it from below, which arch over and come to rest on the branches of the host. So when faced with a bare or mostly bare trunk or post they have very minimal ability to climb up - virtually none if the intended support has a smooth surface. And when no support is present at all then they grow taller by piling up upon themselves.

With those designated as ramblers tending to throw out particularly long canes. Canes that are often long starting with their first season, once a specimen has achieved full vigor. So that a rambler may not be a good choice for a support that ends at only 8 ft.

Anywhere there are wild roses - or wild living blackberry plants - of much height those will be providing examples of how roses grow with and without taller plants being above them.