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Pruning Climbing Roses

pruning climbing roses

How To Prune Climbing Roses

Here is a guide and information on pruning the climbing roses.

However,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.

It is more important to train the climbers at this early stage, so they will beautiful and flower from bottom to the top, and not only at the top.

Information On Pruning Climbing Roses

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.

new dawn rose

Pruning Climbing Roses That Are Established

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 2-3 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

It is very important to know when to prune these once- flowering climbing roses.
It should only be done right after the flowering flush is over.These roses mostly bloom on old wood, so if you prune them in spring, you would have no flowers for that season.

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.

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.

Rose Pruning Tool

The long reach rose pruners below, are the ones I personally use.
I have tried a lot of rose pruning tools, and these long handle pruners I can't be without. They make your rose pruning easy and pleasant, with less scratches and cuts from the rose thorns.

If like to purchase these ARS Rose Pruners, click on the high-lighted product link below.

ARS Rose Pruner With Branch Grip - $ 59.99
The perfect rose pruner gives you 2' of extra reach. Cut-and-hold branch grip helps trim the pricking sprigs of roses safely and efficiently. Spring loaded gripper adjusts to the thickness of a stem. Lightweight aluminum arm and hard chrome plated blades resist rusting and corrosion. Comfortable hand grip helps prevent fatigue. Revolving arm allows you to turn the pruner blades in any direction without moving the hand grip. 2' length.

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