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Pruning climbing roses
Flowerlover3
Posts: 219
Hi all, I remember Monty saying you should prune the weakest stems the hardest on bush roses to make them grow stronger, does the same apply to climbers? I have a two year old iceburg with two very strong growing and flowering stems and lots of skinny ones coming from low down, if I prune these will they do better next year? if so should I do it now or in spring?
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Posts
I would cut off the skinny stems in February March. Keep the 2 strong ones and cut off side shoots to a bud about 2 - 3 buds from the main stem. It will grow more stems next year when it gets going, if fed and watered.
With climbers you will get one or two strong stems as you have. Remove anything on the lower stem that looks weak then cut back the main stem to a fat bud about a third below where it is now below the height you want it to flower. Several of the buds on the top end of the strong stem will start to grow, keep the ones that point out cut off those pointing in towards the centre. It is still a young Rose my Iceberg is now quite old and has a good head which I reduce in Autumn to stop wind rock and then prune gently to a fat bud in spring.
Hope this helps but come back if in doubt.
Frank.