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Pruning Fourth of July Climber

15 years ago

I planted a Fourth of July Climber about 1.5 years and it has taken off better than I expected. I had originally wanted to train it to climb up a column.

The canes are already about 12 feet tall.

The rose has gotten out of control.

I did a search on pruning climbers and am more confused than ever.

Here is a photo.

{{gwi:224502}}

I have thought about using clear fishing line and running vertical lines from the bottom railing to the top railing of the porches. I then read climber canes do best when kept horizontal.

How do I prune and train this rose?

Thanks in advance!

Featured Answer

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23

15 years ago

The canes on mine are very strong and stiff, so I have a lot of vertical canes that go up about 6' and then the laterals branch off at right angles and form a kind of multi-trunked tree, with all the blooms (lots of blooms) and foliage at the top. 'Altissimo', one of the parents of FOJ, has turned out to have the same type of growth habit. For mine, fishing line would not be strong enough--the main canes are thicker than broomsticks and very heavy.

This is one rose that doesn't quite fit the "keep the canes horizontal" rule because it will branch and bloom very well at the top without having to arch over. (At least in this yard).

There are a couple of ties to secure the biggest main canes to the iron grating in the wall:
{{gwi:215115}}

Here is the same FOJ from the other side:
{{gwi:224505}}

So as far as pruning, I have given it a "major" pruning every other year, taking it down to the top of that wall, alternating with years of just a tip-prune and general clean up and deadheading. It's a nasty job due to all the thorns and I don't feel like doing it every year. This FOJ was planted in 2000.

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Comments (13)

cincy_city_garden
15 years ago
Just a quick aside, but Hoov, what is that pink rose to the left of the clematis in the photo? Somebody's got to ask :).

Eric
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lsst
Original Author
15 years ago
Hoovb,
WOW! What absolutely gorgeous roses!
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
15 years ago
Just a quick aside, but Hoov, what is that pink rose to the left of the clematis in the photo?

'Mary Rose' (Austin, 1983)
cincy_city_garden
15 years ago
Thanks! No wonder I bought her. Mine is only about 1.5 feet tall though, still a baby. Okay, no more hijacking :)

Eric
jerijen
15 years ago
Altissimo, a real pillar rose, is one of the parents of Fourth of July.
That's probably part of the reason FoJ is so bloomiferous, even where it
cannot be trained horizontally.

Jeri
lsst
Original Author
15 years ago
Since it is bloomiferous, will it work if I take the longest canes and train them vertically on 50 pound fishing line from the lower railing to the upper railing?
Would I then just thin out the little weak canes? Do I cut back any of the horizontal branches that are growing out from longest canes?
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
15 years ago
If you have the longest canes go up vertically they'll probably sprout horizontal branches going at roughly right angles out to whereever the most sun is. The horizontal branches coming out from main canes can get quite long, 5' or more on mine. They come out at rather abrupt angles and are not particularly flexible, but produce the flowers. So it sort of depends how much profile you want. Hopefully the sunny side is the side away from the house so the laterals grow that way.

50 lb fishing line--is that going to hold up in a strong wind (or a modest wind)? Is there any way you can add a panel of wrought iron extending the height of the handrailing up to the bottom of the balcony? That would give you a lot of support to work with.
jerijen
15 years ago
You might consider WIRE, rather than fishing line.

Jeri
lsst
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the replies.
I will look into wire or wrought iron as a support.
It overlooks a small courtyard and is on the front of the house. I want the support to blend in as much as possible.
Ninkasi
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I am reviving this thread because I just wanted to say, that 4th of July rose (and the garden its in) is stunning!
rosecanadian
8 years ago
Yes, it truly is!!!! Wow!! Talk about adding pizzazz to your garden!!

Carol
jjpeace (zone 5b Canada)
8 years ago
I just planted one last week and I am counting on it to bring wild excitement to my garden. I have to say Hoovb got a beautiful garden. Love the iron and white fence combo.

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