I have a red climbing rose but don't know what sort it is. It is climbing up a 6 foot high trellis. The bottom 2 thirds are old wood and has no leaves or flowers and the roses are only in the top foot or so. Should I prune it hard back to get new growth at the bottom?
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Hi Alex - have a look at this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o-o_FHPoEU
It will explain how to stimulate the growth of side shoots which produce the blooms
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
thanks for the question Alex, I thought it was something you lived with
the video was great Dove, thanks 
I've done all that - trained the shoots sideways etc but they have sent up tall shoots that flower at the top. What do I do now with all the thick heavy leafless, flowerless wood at the bottom 5 foot?
Alex
Do you mean there are tall shoots coming from the base of the plant? If so then they need training sideways too so that they too produce side shoots.
Maybe the old canes are ready to take right out so that they're replaced by the new canes.
Info here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWLjvQ5510w
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks Cathy
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.