Roses, including the climbing variety, are a favourite for gardeners thanks to their beautiful colours. However, they should be pruned every well to ensure they grow and flower well, according to the Royal Horticultural Society. February is one of the last chances to do this job, and it should be done before the end of the month.
The RHS said: “Rose pruning ensures that plants grow vigorously and flower well each year. If left, climbing roses can become a tangled mess of branches with very few flowers. Although often considered complicated, rose pruning is not difficult if you follow this guide.”
Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish between a climbing rose and a rambling one.
According to the experts, the easiest way to tell the difference is to note the flowering time. A climbing rose will repeat-flower every summer and well into autumn, while a rambling one usually only flowers once, around June.
The RHS said: “Climbers are routinely pruned in winter, after the flowers have faded, between December and February. Long whippy shoots can be shortened or tied in during autumn, to prevent strong winds from damaging them.”
To prune climbing roses, first remove any dead, diseased or dying branches. Then, tie in any new shoots needed to fill supports.
The experts added: “Prune any flowered side shoots back by two-thirds of their length. If the plant is heavily congested, cut out any really old branches from the base to promote new growth.”
If you need to renovate overgrown climbing roses, start by removing all dead, diseased, dying and weak shoots.
Next, cut some of the old woodby branches to the ground, retaining a maximum of six young, vigorous stems that can be secured to supports.
Saw away any dead stumps at the base of the plant, where rain can collect and encourage rot.
Shorten side shoots on the remaining branches and prune back the tips by one-third, to encourage branching.
Give pruned plants a growth the following spring by spreading a granular rose feed over the soil and mulching.
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