When to prune climbing rose?

[HeyMacWey]

I have a climbing rose - I think it is called Claire Austin.

The first year I didn't prune as there wasn't much growth. The second year there was lots of growth and lovely blooms.
As it's been so warm it's still flowering.
When should I try and prune?

I've never grown roses before so don't really know what I'm doing. I've been tying in the side shoots to train it and dead heading but other than that I don't know what to do.

Do I cut back the flowering shoots that come out of the side shoots?

[Quoteunquote]

www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/advice-and-inspiration/pruning-english-climbing-roses/

www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/advice-and-inspiration/category/rose-advice/

www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profile?pid=186

I have a rule , when someone or something causes me stress or anger in life, those times when someone is a nasty fuckwit, I go to the David Austin website and buy myself a rose, this means that the person who has caused me pointless stress, has really done me massive favour.

There is nothing lovelier than sitting in a rose scented garden.


www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/claire-austin-climbing-rose is this the one?

[HeyMacWey]

Thanks - that first link has answered my side shoot questions.

As it's still so mild and none of the leaves have dropped particularly should I just go ahead now and prune anyway?

[bilbodog]

I am putting off pruning mine fir a few weeks more just in case we get a very cold spell. That way, if any of the fresh shoots get caught by frost you can cut them off when pruning.

[FlossieTurner]

The reason they are not pruned this early is because pruning promotes fresh young growth. Late February is notorious for sudden overnight frosts and high winds. These will damage the emerging baby shoots.

I feel that the books make the pruning of roses sound much more complicated than it should be.

My guide is, the newer the Rose, the less pruning you should do. That is light pruning overall, and take out anything that is damaged or totally growing in the wrong direction. Do this early to mid March.

More established Rose's can be pruned much harder in November and then again in March if necessary.

Climbing roses can be shaped into a fan or allowed to do their own thing. If they are a feature growing against a wall, then the fan shape is good because you get flowers across whole rose.

If they are part off a border, with shrubs in front of them, it doesn't it matter if the flowers are nearer the top. Roses are totally forgiving of bad pruning, but if in doubt do less not more.

I love Claire Austin, it is no my birthday list.

[didireallysaythat]

Can I ask a question ? I have inherited a red rose, big red head, single blossom, incredible fragrance. It grows from a single stem - I cut it down, took cuttings two years ago which are now planted out, and they too just grow up as a single stem. They get to 4-8 feet and then do a few flowers.

What type of rose might this be ? And can it be convinced to do something other than shoot up and flower over my head ? I haven't managed to get side shoots yet ...

[FlossieTurner]

If you can send a picture of it now, in its its dormant state, might be able to advise where to prune to encourage different growth. Although it sounds like a climber that might benefit from training rather than pruning. If you can gently bend the branch to come out sideways and secure it as it grows, you hopefully will find that it will break out from the branch.

I find the best way to this is either, to place some trellis behind the Rose or to put a bamboo stake other side of it. Very gently and loosely bend the branch and tie it to the stake. Gradually as the branch grows bend it slightly lower and retire. You have to do it gradually, other wise the branch will just snap. After a few weeks you will need to more canes in and tie in the new growth. By then you should see new growth coming through

How many branches come out from the base of it?

[FlossieTurner]

I meant, of course, re-tie not retire.

This is what you are aiming for. Looks terrible now but in the summer every branch carries so many flowers that the fence is hidden

[didireallysaythat]

Many thanks Flossie. It's a bit dark outside right now so I'll try and take a photo before leaving for work tomorrow.

[didireallysaythat]

OK. Two photos. The first is of the mother plant. I took cuttings from this and then chopped it down as it was 12 feet tall, one or two stems, few fantastic blooms outside the bathroom window. I cut above the graft point, expecting it to die but it came back (no flowers last time year).

The second is of the cutting which I planted out last summer, forgot about (it was behind some cosmos) and it popped up a couple of flowers at around 3-4 feet. No side shoots but I haven't tied it in yet.

[FlossieTurner]

Yes definitely needs training. Either fix some trellis or wires tho the wall or fence or use the cane method. If you fix something to the wall, say screw in hooks with eyes, then leave about a 3 inch gap between the wall and the wires. The rose needs some air behind it and it is easier to tie in if you have gaps behind it.

Looks like the wood is quite hard so this will be a gentle process. New softer growth will start soon. It is a bit difficult to see but I don't think I would prune just yet. See how far you get with the bending. Ideally it should be between 45' and 80' angle. Once the branch starts to bend you should see break out growth going straight up as In my photo. These new shoots should flower this year.

Alternatively if you are prepared to sacrifice some of the flowers for this year, prune to about just under a metre. About 2 feet 6 inches, in my world. Although, prune higher to avoid pruning in the old wood. Hopefully there should be enough green wood, especially in the cutting. Just above the prune new side branches should emerge. As these get longer very gently train them to come out at almost 90' angles from the main stem.

[HeyMacWey]

I've just wandered down the garden and there are loads of new shoots on the rose - I haven't pruned yet as wanted to wait till end of February.

When I do prune what do I do with the new shoots? Just leave them? Will pruning encourage them to grow faster?