Large Roses:  Climbers and Ramblers
Presented by Kate Lowman
 

1. Try to see a mature specimen of the rose you want, to observe how it grows.
2. Plant where a rose hasn't been for at least 2 years.
3. Prune newly planted roses to about 3", or 3-4 eyes from bottom of each stem, to encourage strong new growth from base of plant. 4. You may have to wait a few years before doing much pruning, if a rose's growth pattern is unknown to you.  There is considerable variation within the categories of "climber" and "rambler" as to how flexible the canes are, the strength of growth, and the kind of support that will be required. 5. Deadhead only for aesthetics (if old blooms are messy looking). Many roses produce hips after all.
7. Some of our climbers and ramblers have needed spraying for sawfly caterpillars. We have used "B. t." (e.g. "Dipel Dust").   Black spot we live with.
8.  We  use  "Rose-tone" fertilizer.

Climbers

-Tend to have stiff, long, upright growing canes, that need support.
-Flowers appear on laterals from main shoots, on this season's growth.
-Therefore train strong shoots as desired and as feasible, by tying support. Prune to encourage growth of new laterals by each cutting back laterals, as feasible, to about 1 /3 their length.

Ramblers

-Thinner, more pliable shoots.
-Mostly flower on previous year's growth.
-Therefore prune after flowering; we cut off old canes and then train the new ones as they grow during the summer.
 
 

© 2000-2006, Gardeners' Exchange Group P.O. Box 3415 Shepherdstown, WV 25443-3415 Comments or suggestions? Send them to Please review our Privacy Policy.

You are visitor number  1571  to this page since 6 April 2001.