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How do I make my climbing roses climb?

10 years ago

Hello!

I am new to roses and have a question about climbers. I have 5 climbing roses plants against our screened in porch. My husband installed plastic lattice against the screen (there is about an inch or two of space between the lattice and screen) for the roses to climb. Well they have finally started growing and blooming and I realized that they are not "climbing." Did a google search and saw that roses will not climb the same way a vine does. My question is, how do I attach my roses to the lattice? I went to try lacing one of the longer stems through the lattice but was afraid I would break it. What are some tips and trips to attach my roses?

Thank you!

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Comments (8)

seil zone 6b MI
10 years ago
No, climbing roses do not have grasping tendrils like vines do. They just have very long cane growth that has to be tied to any trellising in order for them to "climb". It would help to know where/what zone you are in as well as which roses you have and how long you've had them. Don't try and weave it into the lattice. That can cause a lot of problems down the road when you need to prune those roses. You have to tie the canes to the lattice. I just use twist ties but there are other types of garden ties you can get if you like. If you want to spread the canes more sideways, so you get more bloom, you have to do it when the canes are young and more flexible. As the canes age they will get thicker and stiffer and that's when it's possible you could break them trying to spread them out.
jerijen
10 years ago
Strips of old pantyhose work well. :-)

Jeri
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lma84
Original Author
10 years ago
I am in Zone 7B. I wish I knew what type of Roses I have...but unfortunately I did not pay much attention to their names when I purchased them. I bought them as dormant plants from Home Depot a month ago. What do you mean when you say spread the cane sideways? You mean actually bend them so they are horizontal?
jacqueline9CA
10 years ago
FIrst, you need to WAIT. If you only planted these roses a month ago, they have not even settled in yet, no matter which roses they are. Make sure they have enough water, and leave them alone. I presume that the new growth you and blooming you are seeing is mostly not terribly long canes that are not terribly big around? When they really decide to climb (which may take many months or a few years), they will suddenly start putting out one or more larger, long canes. Sometimes this frightens people, the canes grow so fast and tall.

At that point, yes, to get the most flowers you can GENTLY pull the canes to as horizontal as you can get them without damaging them, and tie the to the lattice. They will put out blooms all along their length that way, instead of just one at the top.

Do post pics on here of the bushes and the blooms - someone will probably recognize them.

Jackie
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
10 years ago
Zip ties aka cable ties.
Melissa Mc (6b)
10 years ago
Thanks for asking this. I have a Joseph's Coat that is in year 2 and growing like crazy and I would like to get it to grow up a porch post but not sure how to guide it there since the canes aren't really long enough yet. Could I guide it toward the post somehow?
jacqueline9CA
10 years ago
If "the canes aren't really long enough yet", you need to just WAIT until it starts putting out its real climbing canes - you will be astonished at how much longer and bigger they will be than the current "baby growth".

Jackie
drgswinn
8 years ago
That's fantastic advice Jackie, thanks so much:-)

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