Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Climbing rose

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in Plants

I have a climbing rose which I'm trying to train over a pergola/ bench thing.

Whenever I try to lean the stems over a bit, they snap. I've tried letting the branch get very high and fat and I've tried doing it when they're thin and whippy - no luck either way.

I  thought I'd succeeded once by forming a large arc and then a woodpigeon sat on it and broke it.image

I 've got one or two branches that I've managed to train flat, against the top of the pergola but it's the  shoots coming vertically from these that are causing the problem.

Advice would be appreciated

Thanks

In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • CloggieCloggie Posts: 1,457

    So the ones coming vertically from the ones you've managed to "bend", aren't they the flowering shoots?

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505

    They are flowering but way too high. It looks like a rosy porcupine.

    I want to be able to tie down the shoots if possible without them snapping. If not, should I prune all the shoots and might they get bushy?

    Can't remember the name of the rose - it's scented, red and name related to Ireland.

    I have had no trouble training other roses -just this one which seems very brittle.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,088

    Dublin Bay?  The Beales site says it's good for a pillar or obelisk but nothing about training over arches so maybe it isn't flexible enough..

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505

    That's my answer then. Thanks obelixx. Right rose wrong placeimage

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,088

    You'd be better off with a repeat rambler.  David Austin have some with good perfume but not that red unfortunately.  I've had good experience with a Malvern Hills so have bought one for this garden along with Lady of the Lake.   I had a lovely white Kiftsgate and have brought one of its babies with me but it only flowers once and gets huge - 10 metres - so not good for your average arch.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505

    Thanks for suggestions obelixx. there's clematis Montana on same side  and a young honeysuckle on the other  so I might just prune it back  later and give it an obelisk or something to grow up next year. .

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,088

    Sounds like you arch is going to be busy so an obelisk would be a good solution.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505

    Not as busy as you'd think. Poor dry soil keeps manners on themimage

    In London. Keen but lazy.
Sign In or Register to comment.