To get the best display out of a climbing rose, it's essential that it is trained while dormant, from November to March. Training a climbing rose can be daunting but do not worry – here, head gardener Jenny Barnes shares her expert advice on training roses, in four simple steps.
If you're feeling adventurous, take your rose training one step further by following Jenny's advice on creating rose sculptures.
How to train a climbing rose
Step 1: strip leaves and deadhead
Begin by stripping the leaves from the whole rose. Most rose pests and diseases are carried on the leaves, so by removing them, you’re organically removing the problem. Clearing the leaves means you get a better look at the existing structure of the rose enabling you to prune more accurately and also means you’re left with a crisp, clean structure once you’re finished. Snip off last year’s flowerheads back to the first true leaf.
Step 2: cut back
Ruthlessly, cut out any dead, damaged or diseased wood, cutting back to a healthy, strong bud. Shorten all side shoots – I leave just two healthy buds per stem. This keeps the overall structure looking neat and tidy and prevents your finished shape looking woolly. Cut back any growth thinner than a knitting needle – this keeps the framework open and airy, helping to prevent mildew.
Step 3: train the stems
Each shoot will have a natural direction of growth, based on this, bend, curve and entwine the stem until you’re happy. Bending a stem downwards will slow the sap, encouraging more flower production along the length. Roses are more flexible than you think, but go slowly and ease them into position.
Step 4: tie in the stems
When you are happy with the placement of each stem, tie the rose in place. I use simple garden twine in either natural or green. Tie the stems firmly with a tight double knot. Tradition teaches us not to cross stems when training to prevent rubbing and infection, however if you tie tightly, there is no opportunity for movement and therefore damage. I obsessively trim the ends of all twine to keep the shape looking neat and tidy.
Don't miss our rose training masterclass with Jenny Barnes
Watch our exclusive video tutorial recorded at Cottesbrooke Hall in winter and summer, as head gardener Jenny Barnes shows how to create amazing shapes with roses. Jenny, whose nickname is Niff, is so well-known and respected for her creative rose work that the act of crafting the stems into swirling and 3D shapes is now widely known as ‘niffing’ roses. Get her expert advice on exactly how to prune and artistically sculpt climbers and ramblers with this unique step-by-step guide.
