Pruning roses for idiots!

[Thisissomething]

I have a large climbing/ rambling rose at the side of the house which has slowly been deteriorating over the last few years.

For the first few years it had loads of flowers every May. Now most of the flowers are at the top and there are not nearly so many as before.

This plant was here when we bought the house so I have no idea if it is a climber or a rambler ( or even if there is a difference). It only appears to flower once a year so I suspect this this normal for it but friends and neighbours tell me that it should/could flower more and it needs pruning.

So far my pruning consisted of chopping off what looked like old wood and tidying up! At no particular time of year.

So this year my neighbour who admittedly is great with roses pruned it quite a bit ( possibly nov). And advised me to prune again in March.

On googling though for once a year climbers I am not sure about this.

Sorry long!
Any advice?

As your friend has done the main pruning you only need light pruning in March. Mainly tie in any really straggly branches so that they don't break in the wind. If any branches look unhealthy cut them out completely. The pruned wood should start to sprout now. It is important that the rose gets light and air so if any branches are rubbing together, cut out the weakest one.

I spray my roses with a combined fungicide and insect spray. Rose clear or the like. It might be worth adding some feed around the roots. Or a folia spray feed. The instructions of when to do it are on the bottle or packet.

Throughout the summer you can still cut away any branches that seem weak. Hope it recovers. What colour is it?

Generally climbing roses have fairly straight stems. These can be bent so that other branches break out from the main branches.

Ramblers tend to be a bit more straggly and break out all over the place.

Thanks for that info.
Looks like a climber then and I will only lightly prune now.
It has loads of buds so hopefully will be better this year.
Do you think it is possible to get it to flower more than once?
Will I prune again after flowering? Juneish?

Some climbers do have a second flowering. Are you able to describe the flower.

You can either dead head after flowering or cut back to a new shoot between 6 to 12 inche's from the flower. Roses are tough old things so you won't do any harm either way.

I am not very good at describing except to say quite bunched up, lots of petals. No photos I'm afraid.
I will try your advice and cut back after flowering and see what happens. Thanks for your advice