Pruning Tips for Climbing Roses

Pruning climbing roses is essential for maintaining their structure and promoting abundant blooms. 

According to experts, the key is to preserve the main structural canes while trimming backside shoots, typically in late winter or early spring, to encourage new growth and shape the plant for optimal flowering throughout the season.

TIMING AND INITIAL PRUNING

Let’s get ready for the coming growing season. Late winter to early spring, just as leaf buds swell, is the optimal time for pruning climbing roses. Begin by removing any dead, damaged, or crossing branches to promote healthy growth. Identify the main structural canes growing from the base, which provide the framework for the roses and should not receive heavy pruning. Instead, focus on the trimming lateral shoots growing off these main canes, cutting them back to about 2-3 inches from the main cane. This approach encourages fresh growth while maintaining the plant’s overall structure.

MAIN CANES AND LATERALS

When pruning climbing roses, it is crucial to understand the difference between main and canes and laterals. Main canes are thick, vigorous stems growing from the base of the plant, forming the rose’s structural framework. Laterals, or side shoots, grow off these main canes and bear the blooms. To maintain the rose’s structure, avoid heavily pruning the main canes, only trimming the tips about 1/4 of their length if necessary. Instead, focus on pruning the laterals, cutting them back to within 1-2 feet of the main canes. This approach preserves the rose’s overall structure while encouraging recent growth and abundant flowering.

SHAPING AND TRAINING

To shape and train climbing roses effectively, focus on tying new, strong stems to the support structure in the desired pattern. For roses growing on fences or walls, aim to create a fan shape by training stems horizontally at about 24-inch intervals. Throughout the year, lightly trim lateral shoots to maintain tidiness, especially after a flush of blooms.

When pruning, remember that climbing roses bloom on older wood, so avoid removing too much of the previous year’s growth. This ensures the rose maintains an attractive shape while promoting abundant flowering from top to bottom. 

YEAR-ROUND MAINTENANCE

Throughout the growing season, maintain the structures of climbing roses by regularly dead-heading spent blooms and tying in new fresh growth to support structure. Remove and suckers growing from below the bud union by yanking them sharply downward to eliminate the bud tissue. For rambling roses, which differ from typical climbers, prune just after the flowering in summer. Cut side shoots that have flowered back to two buds from the main stems, tie in two to three strong shoots, and remove an equal number of old ones at ground level. This ongoing care ensures the rose remains healthy and well-shaped and continues to produce abundant blooms.

Happy Growing!

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