One of the most colorful and beautiful
additions that can be made to a garden is the climbing rose. A gardener
can exercise loving care along with a few skillful strategies to
send the rose into areas untouched by the beauty of a vibrant bloom.
Select a color for your climbing rose
that will blend with your existing garden. Even if you have a wild
medley of color, some colors are better suited next to other colors.
Once you have your rosebush in hand, the strategies begin.
The climbing rose produces shoots
of two natures. The main shoots are long structural canes from which
the smaller shoots grow. Care must be taken to properly support
this cane since it supports the remaining shoots. Consider where
you are going to place your climbing rose and plan accordingly.
Since climbing roses produce more
blooms when the structural cane is in a horizontal position, consider
running the structural cane along a fence for maximum beauty. If
this is not an option for your garden, then carefully select a trellis
that is sturdy and appealing.
When selecting your trellis, think
ahead. Realize that the bush is going to grow considerably. Mother
Nature is also going to play her part bandying the roses about in
the wind and drenching them in the rain. The trellis needs to be
strong enough to support the rose bush during those moments.
Additionally, unless the trellis is
constructed from the right materials, it may experience some decay
and trauma of its own. Consider the durability of the trellis before
making your purchase. It is much more difficult to replace an existing
trellis than it is to install it initially. Also, keep in mind that
at some future time, additional pruning will be necessary.
Once you are ready to begin, assemble
your tools and materials prior to actually beginning the work. This
allows the task to move smoothly from one facet to the next without
any distractions. The materials and tools needed for the job include:
climbing rose, trellis or fence, shovel, pruning sheers, fertilizer,
and plant ties.
Install the trellis first. Anchor
it firmly. Once the rose bush begins to grow and put on weight and
the winds begin to blow, the trellis must be strong enough to support
its weight.
The placement of your trellis should
guarantee enough room for air circulation and maintenance of the
rose bush. Therefore, place it a few feet away from any permanent
barriers. Also, attempt to place the trellis in a sheltered spot
away from the wind.
When planting the rose bush, dig a
hole that is twice the width of the spread of its roots. The hole
should be two feet deep. The center of the hole should be centered
approximately 18 to 30 inches away from the supporting trellis or
fence.
Be sure to drape the roots and carefully
cover them with loose soil. The graft union, or part of the rose
bush where the top of the bush, the flowering canes, joins the bottom
of the bush, the roots, should be planted slightly above the soil
level in warmer climate regions. For colder climate areas, the graft
union should be placed 2 to 6 inches below the soil line.
Next, deeply water the rose bush.
It is best to cover the immediate area surrounding the bush with
compost and a rich fertilizer. Water the rose bush a second time.
Top off with a layer of mulch, taking care not to smother the trunk
of the bush.
Now, it's time to tie the structural
canes to the support structure. Use plant ties that are flexible
or stretchy in material. Attempt to tie the canes on in a horizontal
manner if possible. Leave some space in between canes, attempting
to balance them evenly on your support structure. Any broken branches
should be carefully removed with the pruning sheers.
For the first few years of growth,
gardeners can allow the rose bush to grow freely. Take care to remove
dead growth. Moreover, any broken branches should be carefully removed
as well. Once your plant has been established for several years,
prune overcrowded canes to the base of the plant as well. Also,
as new structural canes grow, tie them onto the trellis firmly.
