My sweet autumn clematis is very vigorous and would choke out any climbing rose. Maybe they are less vigorous up north? I doubt it though.

I had sweet autumn clematis and it was a beast. I would not put a climbing rose with it.

Nah. My neighbor has one that is currently happily eating a blue spruce. At least it will get that tree before the tree eats their driveway.

No. But if you have a Sweet Autumn Clematis you will probably have one growing up your rose regardless of whether you plant it intentionally or not. They re-seed everywhere. A real nuisance in my yard.

I agree with everyone above -- DON'T do it. I've just returned from an Amtrak trip to NYC and back. Autumn Clems were growing rampantly along the tracks for mile after mile. They were easy to ID even on a speeding train because they're in full bloom right now. This plant has definitely escaped cultivation and become invasive here in the east. If it hasn't already, it'll probably end up on a noxious weed list sooner or later . . .

Karl recently posted a picture of his SAC and a rose. The SAC won!

Here is a link that might be useful: thread on SAC with a rose

The rose, 4th of July, looks good for most of the summer. By August Sweet Autumn Clematis takes over pretty much and when it blooms in early September you cannot see the rose. Winter causes it to die back leaving a lot of dead to cut away each spring and Fourth of July does it's thing again.
It's been this way for 5 years and hasn't killed the rose. I haven't noticed any great number of volunteers from seed either. Any I find get potted up and sold.

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There is a Fourth of July planted on each side of that arbor.

Veelakin, very interesting about SA escaping and growing wild. My friend gave me the SA from her garden; they were everywhere. So far mine have behaved themselves and haven't procreated yet.

My SAC completely coveres big dogwood from top to bottom and I cut it to the ground every spring.
Olga

You definitely need to cut it down to a few buds each spring, and if possible tear it down now (as it's just finished blooming here) before those seed heads are scattered everywhere. And btw Terry that's a gorgeous shade bed. I'm not much into hostas, but you have really created a wonderfully diverse and colorful grouping of them. What's the little white one on left front if I can ask?

Maryl, that hosta is 'Revolution'. This hosta bed used to be an old fence row with scrubby trees and barbed wire that DH cleaned out.

Can I cut mine down once done blooming? I thought you should wait till spring.. How much should I cut it back??

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I've never cut mine back since I want it to keep covering the trellis, so I'm not much help.

I wait until spring and cut off all that doesn't come back. That's usually most of the upper portion that covers the inside of the arbor. Mine almost starts all over each spring.

Thanks Terry for the Hosta name. I don't know what to tell those in a colder climate about cutting SAC back before spring. I have one that reseeded and is growing up a 12 foot Rose of Sharon. So far I've allowed it to stay, but if I get around to it I try and pull it down and hack off the seed bearing top half in late fall, pruning the rest back to about foot high the next spring. It quickly grows back up and over the Rose of Sharon by mid year. It's re-seeding is such a nuisance however that I'd say it should not be planted at all in a warm climate, particularily if the seeds can escape to uncultivated areas, such as a green belt or forest. A treasured perennial perhaps to northerners, not so much by the rest of us.

The only rose I think might survive a close releationaship with a S.A.C. is a Banksia rose, and I think your climate might be too cold for it.

Luxrosa.

What about 'Zepherine Drouhin' would that work or not really. I like the idea of thornless climbers but not sure it would work with SW

I cut mine back to about 4" each and every year and it reliably climbs back 25' each and every year. I have grown it for at least 10 years, and probably much longer, and have never had a seedling anywhere. I have cut it back in the fall after flowering, and have waited until spring to do it - it doesn't seem to make a difference.

We have a SAC on a chain link fence in proximity to two once-a-year blooming roses, Russelliana (Russell's Cottage Rose) and what's known around here as Seven Sisters (but I think is really Excelsia). Each plant is about eight feet apart and in partial shade -- really only 4-5 hr/day of sun. Right now the SAC is in full bloom and the location looked great in June, too, when the rambling roses bloomed.

All three plants are happily duking it out. There was a Constance Spry involved in the fray on the fence, but one of the others choked it out this year. It's a part of our garden that's pretty neglected and these three are just perfect for that location. We'd probably lose small children to these plants if they got more sunlight and proper care.

Sounds like what I need for chain link dog run.

Carla