How to Grow a Climbing Rose on a Trellis

Climbing Rose Growing 101: from trellis to pruning "No rose climbs in the sense that a vine does by deliberately taking a grip on the next hand-hold in the direction of the light," wrote the English horticulturalist Hugh Johnson in his 1979 book The Principles of Gardening. "The rose method is to put up canes, sometimes of amazing length, in the hope that support will be forthcoming." Thus, though climbing roses may support themselves with prickles, aka thorns, what they often need is the support - literally the helping hand - of a gardener. It's a hand well worth extending, for climbing roses are among the most beautiful sights to be found in any garden. Here are some tips on how to help your climbing rose turn a garden trellis into a romantic and picturesque landmark.

Choosing a trellis

There are two things to consider when shopping for climbing rose trellises: a climbing rose bush can become very heavy, and setting up a new trellis is much, much easier than replacing a trellis that's decaying or not offering enough support. Metal trellises or weather- and decay-resistant wood trellises should offer the strength and solidity you'll need.

A climbing rose trellis will also need to be securely anchored. Laying down a concrete-reinforced foundation may be your best option for long-term stability.

Choosing a location

Before you start laying concrete, do a little of what the film industry calls "location scouting." If you've purchased one of our lovely garden trellises and plan to set it up away from any existing structures (house, garage, etc.), consider how the extra shade will impact any plants in the area. Angle the trellis so that it receives an optimum amount of sunshine. Also, if wind tends to blow into the garden from a certain direction, set the trellis perpendicular to the wind.

If your trellis is going next to a wall, leave a few feet of space in between so that both air and pruning shears-bearing gardeners can circulate.

Planting (and "training") the roses

The hole you dig for the rose bush should be two feet deep and twice as wide as the bush's root spread. The hole's center should be between 1.5 and 2.5 feet from the trellis. After draping the roots and covering them with soil, water the bush thoroughly and spread compost and fertilizer around it.

A climbing rose's primary shoots or stems are known as canes, and they'll produce more flowers if they're horizontal rather than vertical. To ensure this, tie the canes horizontally to the trellis with twine, cloth strips, or plant ties. Maintain even spacing, and cut away any broken branches.

Avoid pruning your climbing roses until they've been in place for a few years and begun to cover the entire trellis. Tie new canes to the trellis, and remove dead growth. Every few years, cut away older canes so that newer ones can replace them.