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Can laterals become main stems?

CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
in Plants
Hi guys,

I have a climbing rose and it has produced the main canes growing straight up and then above the door I arched them over it horizontally. However on some of those main canes, on the vertical parts lower down, there are some very thick strong vigorous lateral canes coming off these and growing straight upwards.

Can these be trained horizontal and almost become a kind of main cane, even though it's coming off a main cane already... Or do you have to cut these down to 2 buds like the usual lateral canes?

I hope I have explained that clearly :) 

Thanks
Craigh

Posts

  • SalixGoldSalixGold Posts: 450
    yes
  • CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
    edited July 2023
    @SalixGold Yes to which option? Grow lateral as a main stem or cut it down to 2 buds? :)
  • WAMSWAMS Posts: 1,960
    SalixGold was answering the question in your thread title with admirable succinctness!

    There are some good, clear YouTube videos on training climbers done by Paul Zimmerman.  


  • CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
    Thanks will have a look at them :)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think @Nollie or @Marlorena will be able to help you if they see my tags on their names @CraighB.
    There isn't much about roses they don't know and will be able to give helpful advice and guidance  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Echoing others, yes, bend the laterals to 45 degrees or more they will produce laterals themselves and more blooms along the length. You might have to gently bend over and tie down in stages if they’re a bit stiff. Depends if you have enough wall space to the left of your door to do that.

    If not, since canes growing straight up usually only flower at the tips, you could shorten them to just above a leaf node of your choice in a staggered fashion to get more blooms lower down the side of the door. A useful trick to get better overall bloom coverage in any rose with stiff, upright canes, freestanding or otherwise!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • CraighBCraighB Posts: 758
    @Nollie That is a very good idea! Because yes I don't have enough room at the side of the door until it gets past a certain point.

    So what I have done with the very first canes that came when I planted the rose is to zigzag them so they are as horizontal as possible.

    But with that strong new growth I might shorten them at different heights if there isn't anywhere else for them to go :)

  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Zigzagging is definitely the way to go if you catch them while still pliable. I suspected the one circled may have gone beyond that stage. Hard to tell tho unless you get your hands on!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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