Climbing Roses

Climbing roses have large or clustering flowers on vigorous twining stems that can reach 6m in height. They grow quickly, blooming repeatedly throughout summer and early autumn, and are an ideal feature for trellises, obelisks, walls and fences.

Climbing roses have more structured growth and produce larger flowers, but fewer of them, most being scented. Where climbing roses tend to grow (roughly) in one direction, ramblers are more informal and less structured. They’re often found on walls, structures or scrambling through tree branches. They flower just once a year - usually in June - but it’s pretty spectacular when they do.

The best position for a climbing rose is in a warm, sheltered spot with at least six to eight hours of sunlight per day throughout the growing season, but they will also be fine with a little light shade. You can get some planting design tips in our rose garden feature.

The best soil for climbing roses is well drained and fertile - a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5 is best. To enrich your soil, dig in plenty of well rotted manure or compost before planting.

Bare root climbing roses should be planted between November and March, on a day when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged. Potted climbing roses can be planted at any time of year.

To plant your climbing rose, dig a hole twice as wide and deep as the rose's roots. For bare root roses, you’ll need to soak them in a bucket of water for a couple of hours beforehand. Position your rose in the centre of the hole, fill in with soil or compost and give it a good watering. For bare root roses, the graft union (the bump on the stem where the rose stem meets the roots) should be at or slightly below the soil level. For potted roses the soil level should be level with the soil level it had in the pot.

You’ll need to give your climbing rose some support to climb up - this can be a trellis, arbour, arch, obelisk, fence or a wall with wire supports. Tie in the stems of your rose gently to the support network with plant ties or garden wire, and train new stems to grow up the supports as they emerge.

Climbing roses need to be watered deeply and regularly when they’re newly planted and also during hot or dry weather. The soil should always be moist but not waterlogged - a layer of mulch around the base of the plant can help keep the moisture in.

Feed your climbing rose during the summer and when the roses are in flower, with a high nitrogen food - this can be specialist rose feed or tomato feed. Your roses will also benefit from a mulch of farmyard manure over winter, which breaks down and helps to feed the plants in spring.

Prune your climbing roses in late winter or early spring before the new growth emerges. Remove dead, diseased, or damaged wood, and trim back any overly long canes to promote vigorous growth and flowering. Rambling roses should be pruned in August or September as soon as the flowers have finished. For both types, deadhead spent flowers regularly to promote continuous blooming throughout the growing season.