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I am brand new to growing roses and have a major question: I have two climbing roses that I have neglected for years and mis-pruned. They are both basically a 7' high, naked trunk, 1 inch in diameter with a one "cane" at the top, with several branches coming haphazardly from the top. I want to begin transforming them into two productive climbers. They are still blooming in this coldish Virginia late fall. Does it make sense to cut them down to 2 or 3 feet so they will sprout canes from the base of the plants that I can then work with or should I bend the trunk over and leave them as is and hope that if I prune with more skill more canes will grow from the bent over trunk? One is a Don Juan and the other a beautiful yellow rose of unknown name. I would love help. Thanks in advance.
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Hi, do you experience severe freezes where you are? If you do, don't prune them now for fear of inducing softer growth which could well freeze. If you want to prune them lower, I'd think it would be better to wait until the last chance of really hard frost in your climate. When you do prune them, I wouldn't take those seven foot, one inch thick canes down more than about a third. That's kind of thick to try forcing into new basal growth all at once. Hopefully, reducing them a third, maybe two to two and a half feet in height, will help stimulate them into producing new growth, lower down. From there, you should be able to begin training the newer growth, lower to cover whatever area you desire. Hope it helps.
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#2 of 3 posted
15 DEC 12 by
Euglena
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Thanks, Kim. I am in northern Virginia, 7b. Given the wild swings in weather these days, I will wait until danger of hard frost is gone.
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You're welcome! At least there is nothing (other than time) to be lost by waiting until more favorable weather. Happy Holidays!
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