Pruning Climbing Roses

When to Trim Rose Bushes That Climb
Before pruning climbing roses, you need to know when to trim climbing rose bushes and how
to cut back rose bushes that climb or ramble.
Please remember that, most climbing roses and rambling roses, need two or three years to build
up enough top growth to produce flowers; during that time, they need little or no pruning.

Climbing 'New Dawn' Rose
Climbing Rose bushes should not have their main long arching canes pruned for two or three years, if ever.
The first reason is that they need time to build long flowering canes, that will produce lateral side shoots which are the real flower producing stems.
The second reason is, if you prune back the long canes, it will alter the look and careful training of the climber.
The picture below is a perfect example of a well trained climber. And by the way it's climbing New Dawn, my favorite.
The only pruning this rose needs is by cutting back the lateral shoots that grow from the main canes.

Established climbers generally do fine with just a light pruning. Trim main canes only if they
overgrow their space, then cut back the side shoots from these main canes to about 4-6 inches.
If you have an once-blooming climber, only prune right after flowering. Prune repeat flowering
climbers during the dormant season.

Climbing 'Blaze' Rose
Pruning Once-Flowering Climbers And Ramblers
These climbing rose bushes can be quite vigorous and spreading. Remove about 1/4 of the older wood
after the plants flowering period is over.
Prune the remaining canes as severely as necessary for size and shape, and trim the remaining lateral
canes back to 2 or 3 buds.

Old Rambling Rose climbing a dead tree
Pruning Repeat-Flowering Climbers And Ramblers
Deadhead (remove spent flowers) these rose plants regularly to encourage re-flowering. In late
winter, or early spring, remove about one-fourth of the older wood, and trim the remaining canes
to control the size and to give it the shape you want.
Then prune the lateral rose shoots back to about 2 or 3 buds.
Otherwise, prune the climbing rose plant back to the size necessary to keep it in bounds.
If you remember and follow these easy steps for pruning climbing roses, you will have beautiful
looking climbing roses with lots of blooms.
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