Rose pruning advice please.

[Oneandnomore]

I have had a climbing rose for two years and it is approx 6 ft high. It is quite spindly, one main branch with several off shoots.

It has flowered really well this year but I don't know if I should cut it back and when? Thanks.

Thin out about one third of it, cull the weakest looking third of branches. I've hacked an old rose almost down to the ground and it came back beautifully.

You can cut it back now -- I cut mine back the other day because I'm afraid I'll forget come November or January . But late winter months are ideal time to prune it (lowest risk of infections to wounds).

Not sure I'd do anything as 5ft tall is quite small for a climber, if you prune too hard you can cause some climbing roses to revert to shrubs, some info here
www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1206/pruningclimbingroses.asp

sorry 6ft even....

Thanks both of you. I think I will play safe and do nothing, seems to have worked ok so far!