Roses are not just confined to garden beds, they can be trained to elegantly climb walls and pergolas, creating stunning vertical displays in any garden. This article guides you through the process of training climbing and rambling roses, turning bare structures into vibrant floral showcases.

Choosing the Right Roses

Before you begin, it's important to select the appropriate type of rose for your project.

• Climbing Roses: Typically have larger flowers, repeat blooms, and can cover a wall or pergola effectively.
• Rambling Roses: Often more vigorous with smaller flowers in large clusters, ideal for sprawling over large areas.

Preparing the Support Structure

Walls

• Fixings: Install strong horizontal wires or trellis about 45 cm apart, ensuring they are securely anchored to the wall. Use tensioners at one end to keep the wire taught.
• Distance from Wall: Allow an inch or two of space between the wall and the trellis to enable air circulation and rose canes that might grow behind not to get caught.

Pergolas

• Overhead Training: For pergolas, depending what exists already you may need to fix wires or trellis on top or along the sides, depending on the desired effect.

Planting the Rose

Positioning: Plant the rose about 30-45 cm away from the base of the wall or pergola to give room for growth and prevent damage from growing too close to the wall or pergola base and angle the plant slightly in towards the support.

Use well-draining, fertile soil. Add grit or sand if the soil is too heavy in clay or becomes water logged, to prevent rotting of the roots. Water regularly, especially during dry spells.

Training Techniques

For the initial training gently bend the main canes and tie them to the support structure, arranging canes horizontally for walls or drape them over pergola beams. Horizontal canes will promote vertical shoots with an abundance of flowers.

In the first few years focus on training rather than pruning to encourage growth and strength. After establishment prune to maintain shape and remove dead or diseased wood. Every few years look to remove a few of the older canes and structure the new ones to replace them.

Trained horizontally, climbing roses will produce more lateral shoots, leading to more flowers.

Ongoing Care

The rose will require regular maintenance. Continue to tie new growth into the structure, remove old and dead canes, monitor for pests and diseases, and treat as needed. Regular pruning of old spent roses will normally encourage new ones for a longer season of interest.

In colder climates you may need to protect the base of the rose with a thick layer of mulch.

Design Tips

• Color Coordination: Choose rose colors that complement your house or garden’s color scheme.
• Companion Plants: Underplant with lower-growing flowers or shrubs for a layered effect.

Training roses to climb walls and pergolas not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of a garden but also allows gardeners to experiment with vertical spaces. With patience and proper care, these climbers will reward you with their stunning blooms year after year, turning ordinary structures into living art pieces.

Happy growing! 

Andy