Climbing roses offer a classic way to add height, color, and fragrance to a garden space, transforming a plain wall into a vibrant feature. These plants are not like true ivy or other self-clinging vines that attach themselves directly to a surface. Instead, climbing roses produce long, stiff shoots that require a permanent, external framework to grow vertically. Providing this structural support and manually guiding the canes is necessary to ensure the plant thrives and delivers an abundant display of flowers.
Understanding Climbing Rose Growth Habits
Climbing roses grow by producing long, rigid shoots called canes, which lack the aerial roots or twining tendrils necessary to grip a flat surface. If left unsupported, these heavy canes will simply arch over or sprawl along the ground, making the plant susceptible to damage and disease.
The goal of support is not only to achieve vertical coverage but also to maximize flower production through strategic placement of the canes. When a cane grows straight up, a natural phenomenon called apical dominance causes most of the plant’s energy to concentrate at the tip, resulting in flowers only at the very top. By training the canes to grow horizontally or at an angle, this dominance is suppressed, encouraging the formation of numerous lateral shoots along the entire length. These lateral shoots are what produce the majority of the blooms, leading to a much fuller and more spectacular floral display.
Selecting and Preparing the Support Hardware
The two main options for wall support are pre-fabricated trellises or a customized wire system, both of which must be durable and weather-resistant. Wire systems are often favored for their minimal visual impact, consisting of horizontal straining wires stretched between fixed points on the wall. For this method, a robust material like stainless steel or heavily galvanized wire, typically 12 to 14 gauge, is necessary to bear the weight of a mature rose.
Alternatively, a sturdy wooden or metal trellis can be mounted to the wall, provided it is constructed from materials that resist rot or rust. Metal trellises should be powder-coated, and wood should be naturally decay-resistant, such as cedar or redwood. Essential components for a wire system include vine eyes, which anchor the wire to the wall, and turnbuckles, which are used to maintain proper tension.
Mounting the Support Structure to the Wall
The most important technical consideration when mounting any rose support to a wall is the creation of an air gap between the structure and the masonry. This space, ideally between two and four inches, prevents moisture from becoming trapped against the wall, which could lead to structural damage or mold growth. Horticulturally, this gap is equally important as it allows for vital air circulation around the rose foliage, which helps prevent common fungal problems like black spot and powdery mildew.
For a wire system, the vine eyes or screw eyes themselves act as the standoffs, with their threaded shanks providing the necessary distance from the wall surface. To install these, you must first use a hammer drill and a masonry bit to create pilot holes in the brick or mortar joints. These holes receive appropriate masonry anchors or rawl plugs before the vine eyes are screwed in tightly. Once all the vine eyes are in place, the straining wire is threaded through the eyes and tensioned using turnbuckles at one or both ends to create a taut, stable framework.
Training and Securing the Rose Canes
With the framework in place, the ongoing process of training begins by physically attaching the rose’s primary canes to the support. This requires soft, flexible tying material that will not cut into the plant tissue as the canes thicken over time. Good options include specialized soft garden ties, flexible rubber bands, or natural jute twine, all applied in a loose loop to allow for future growth.
The key technique is to train the canes horizontally across the wires or trellis rungs, working outwards in a fan shape from the plant’s base. This horizontal positioning redirects the plant’s growth hormones, activating dormant buds along the cane to produce flowering lateral shoots. New, pliable growth should be secured frequently throughout the growing season to ensure it hardens in the desired position.