It could be great either way. I've always thought Crepescule was THE perfect rose for slip covering a chain link fence. But, that's personal taste. If you need to cover the already existing privacy fence and the rose is ready to plant, go for it. If you WANT another arbor or arch and the rose "needing" to get its feet in the ground will help to justify and "motivate" the building of the arch, do that. Either way would be fine. Kim

Thanks for your response, Kim. I would prefer growing her along my fence since that would be readily done. Here is a photo of the fence line from a couple of years ago. The rose to the left is Prosperity and Westerland to the right. I have another prosperity and the Westerland is a stingy bloomer and is very thorny so I may plant Crepescule in the center, then SP the other two to allow Crepescule to run the whole fence. That flower bed, however, is only about 24 inches deep and I wonder if I need to widen it to accomodate the new inhabitant, or will I be able to tie and/or prune Crepescule along that narrow bed?
Thanks again, Molly

You're welcome Molly, my pleasure! I'd think two feet would be deep enough to accommodate Crepescule. It should look lovely along that fence, certainly lovelier than the fence, no matter how nice the fence is! If that Prosperity is doing well, I'd just replace the Westerland with the new rose and let the two share the fence. You'll get fuller coverage, faster that way. Crepescule is a great rose, but being a yellow Tea-Noisette type, it can take its time developing into the plant you expect it to be. Why endure the whole blank fence longer than necessary? Kim

I planted a band of Crepsule June 2010 She is infront of a privacy fence in a raised brick bed (18"). The first 2 summers she proceeded to cascade over and down the brick bed. She stood about a foot tall. Last summer she sent up amazing canes some four feet tall.
Glad I waited patiently. She is stunning. The folliage is full abd she always has beautiful blooms. No disease.
This year I will prune her a tad and shape her in a fan like display against the fence.
You will enjoy this rose immensley.
Jeannie

Well, looks like I have an easy task before me....just plant Crepescule in my existing flowerbed and let her share that fenceline with Prosperity. I will let Westerland have her spring bloom then remove her because, although I love the color and fragrance of her blooms, she has not earned a spot in my garden.
Thanks again for sharing your experience with Crepescule!
Molly

We grow it on an 8-foot-tall pillar, and I like it that way. It needs a lot of pruning if you want it to stay narrow, but if there's room for it to spread out (think Cousin It from the Adams Family), it is great grown that way.

I find it does very well in the compost bin.

My compost bin is too small.

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This post was edited by hoovb on Thu, Feb 7, 13 at 18:04

Hoovb, you have made my heart sing!!!!!
Molly

I had a fabulous Crepuscule against a fence - it fountained and bloomed its heart out - just a fabulous rose. Until the painters pulled it totally over, breaking the whole thing. The great job they did painting the house and the fence paled in comparison with them destroying my beautiful Crepuscule. I have planted another one, but it will be awhile before it will rival the other one. It is one of my "Top 5" roses of all time. I adore it!

The take away here is this: When 'Crepuscule' is happy, it is monstrous. Plan accordingly.