Trailing rose collapse

[TangerineUnicorn]

I have a Maid of Kent rose bush in the garden growing along the fence with next door. In a few places it was loosely tied to the fence to train the plant along. It flowers late so only a few flowers are out and rest of the buds are still tight. When it does bloom it’s really significant and pretty.

My neighbours don’t like roses. Also tbf it is their fence side and the fence was put in new before the little rose bush was planted 10 years ago. In the past they’ve snipped trailing plants of mine and they are oddly passive aggressive in other non gardening ways. Despite me once doing them a truly unbelievably massive favour. I trimmed the rose bush back massively in March as I’d not seek to damage their fence obvs.

Anyway I’ve been out and they’ve snipped (on my side) the ties on the fence and the whole bush has lurched forward and down. It seems such a waste to cut it now before it flowers but it is all over the patio and folded over itself. I have so much to do here as a single parent and it’s a really prickly bush to try and tackle back against the fence even if I do reduce it. What do I do please? I’m kinda sad this week anyway and I’m not sure I can face their passive aggressive faces so I’d love any advice and to work out if I’m in the wrong here at all. Thanks

No advice about what to do re the rose, but your neighbours are right bastards.

As a temporary measure can you get some canes or thin garden stakes and push them in the soil next to each main stem? Then tie the stems to the canes. It would,at least,keep them upright.

If there's room,you need some sort of trellis behind the rose and in front of their fence (are you 100% sure it's theirs? Not all are but your deeds should clarify that).

Tbh I think you also need to ask your neighbours why they did that,knowing the effect it would have. Beyond petty but some people are a bit odd!

If it is their fence and a heavy plant damages it, they will have to pay to replace it. Perhaps thats why they don’t want it attached?

You should add your own support for the rose really.

Thanks. I think you’re right on the canes. I’ll go in at the weekend and try and fix it. It’s so prickly and it clearly loves my soil as it was cut way back and I didn’t expect it to do so well so fast this year, I think I need thicker gloves and a big leather coat for the task.

In terms of talking to them, they’re a bit prickly. I’m not sure it would be a productive conversation. I do know they took a dislike to another (super mainstream, maybe a bit naff) plant I had years ago (way off the fence line) and made passive aggressive comments on that. Whilst I’m moaning they also have bamboo, for which I think the only excuse is a pet panda. But perhaps I shouldn’t let all this cloud the fact I need some sort of trellis long term and the canes short term.I guess if I have to cut it back a bit now I have to cut it back…

Yes,I think that's the way to go. If you haven't got decent gloves,marigold make a pair that are stronger for outside jobs like gardening and they really do work,even with roses.You can get them in supermarkets and they're fairly cheap. They're black.
It'll obviously be better to be independent of your neighbours in the long run.
Bamboo is a nightmare if left and imo should never be planted in anything but a pot!

Just to add that a good waxed jacket is decent protection against even the biggest thorns (I have a true bastard of a rose with inch long thorns which tends to go its own way rather too much).

Thanks both! I have an old waxed jacket in the loft I hadn’t thought of which is coming out tomorrow x