Climbing roses: location, care & robust varieties

Climbing roses are very impressive in terms of growth height and abundance of flowers. You can find out what you need to know about cultivation and care in your own garden here.

Climbing roses not only offer an incredible variety of colors and shapes of flowers and leaves, they can also be used to turn even the smallest garden into a personal relaxation paradise. Above all, the plants want to grow upwards. But with that rose arch or the house facade becomes a flowery symbol of pure Romanesque, nature needs a little help. Proper shaping, pruning and care will be rewarded with an abundance of flowers and dense growth.

Plant climbing roses

With the right care, climbing roses can live for several years and reach heights of up to 6 meters. Therefore, a little more time should be invested in planning and finding a suitable location. Not only because the well-considered choice of a location allows your plant to thrive. Rather, this prevents you from having to start saving again within a short period of time in order to keep the business that has become too large rose (pink) to a new location. This not only means stress for the plant, but also for you.

Location for climbing roses

Anyone who grows meters high likes lots of light and fresh air. When choosing a location for your climbing roses, you should therefore make sure that you have enough space at the top. Because an airy place ensures that no heat build-up occurs and wet plant parts dry off. This way you will have fewer problems with pest and fungal infestation later on. But not only fresh air is desired - the noble plants like a long sunbath at least as much. Only a few varieties tolerate semi-shady locations. Full sun, however, is too much of a good thing. It is best to reserve a nice south-east or south-west spot in the garden for your climbing roses. But climbing roses not only grow high up, but also deep into the ground. A loose soil is therefore the be-all and end-all for climbing roses. The long roots grow very deep, so the soil must be permeable. Make sure there is no compaction in the ground at least a meter deep.

Otherwise, the following applies to the soil of climbing roses:

• Nutritious
• Sandy-loamy
• humor
• Profound (min. 50cm)
• Medium to difficult
• No waterlogging
• Neutral pH

If these conditions are met, climbing roses can be used in many different ways. Whether with practical added value as a privacy screen or simply as a visual highlight in the garden. Fragrant varieties on house facades, pavilions or old tree trunks are particularly suitable for designing your very own favorite place.

notice: Drops of water not only fall far, but also quickly from high crowns. Therefore, do not plant your roses under large trees, otherwise you will quickly find the flowers smashed.

Climbing roses in a pot: is that possible?

Climbing roses can also grow towards the sun in pots. However, only small varieties are suitable for this and even these like it airy underneath. The pot should therefore be at least 50 cm deep and as wide as possible. There are also a few things to keep in mind when caring for the pot:

• Soak root ball in water 24 hours before planting
• Soil: Rose soil mixed with compost or slow release fertilizer
• Fertilize: April - July every 14 days with liquid fertilizer in the irrigation water
• Watering: no waterlogging; good drainage layer at the bottom of the pot
• Repot: Every 2-3 years in a larger pot

Climbing roses: the right planting time

It depends on the condition in which the plants were bought. Bare root roses are planted either in the fall or in the spring. Potted roses can also be planted in summer. In addition, the root ball of the so-called container roses is better developed, you can often see the first flowers and the planting distances can be better estimated. The distances are not only determined by the natural growth of the plant, but also by the shape you want later on. Here, 30 to 50 cm to the climbing aid or 8 cm to the wall must be maintained. Depending on the variety, a distance of one and a half to two meters should be maintained between the plants.

Otherwise, the following should be considered when planting climbing roses:

• Root ball is placed in water 24 hours before planting
• Loosen the soil to a depth of 50 – 100 cm
• Planting hole: 30 - 40 cm deep
• Grafting site lands about 5 cm below the ground when planted
• Water well

Transplant climbing roses

Climbing roses are not a short-term purchase. With the right care, they can grow and thrive for years. It can happen that the surrounding greenery eventually competes with the plants for light and space. Exactly then it is time for a move of the high-flyers. The best time to do this is on a mild, frost-free day in autumn, after the plant has shed its leaves. Transplanting in spring, when the plant has not yet sprouted again, is possible. However, the plants do not grow as quickly as in autumn.

If you have found a new place for the climbing rose, simply proceed as follows:

• Prepare the planting hole at the new location
• Heavy pruning of the climbing rose to be transplanted
• Digging with a spade (min. 2 spade blade lengths deep) dig around the rootstock
• Carefully pry out the plant
• crushed and injured roots are removed
• Water the planting well at the new location
• Piling up soil at the base of the plant (protection from drying out)

A strong pruning means cutting the plant back to a few dormant eyes. The trench around the climbing rose to be transplanted should be dug as deep as possible because of the deep roots of the roses. The more generously you dig, the less damage you will cause to the rootstock.

notice: If you want to plant a new rose in the place of a rose that has been sorted out, the soil must be replaced over a large area (rose fatigue!).

Fasten climbing roses correctly and securely

No matter which climbing rose you choose, a climbing aid is always a must. In order for this to fulfill its purpose, you must pay special attention to its attachment. If the construction is well-armed against wind, rain and the weight load, the greening can be tackled. The shoots are attached differently depending on the type of climbing aid. On climbing columns, the shoots are laid spirally around the trellis. The long shoots are tightened in a fan shape or crossed on trellises. Then the shoots are loosely attached with raffia, plant clips or rubber-coated wire.

What kind of climbing aid is used is up to you and your creativity. You can find classic climbing aids made of metal or wood in every DIY store with a garden center. More unusual models are also available here or on the Internet. If you want to save money or design your garden individually, you can put your handicraft skills to the test. Just make sure the materials you use are weatherproof. Not that the self-made trellis dies before the roses.

Climbing rose varieties: selection and diversity

There are two types of climbing roses. On the one hand the actual climbing roses (also called climbers) and on the other hand the rank or rambler roses. They differ not only in their growth height but also in the flowering rhythm. In addition, the different varieties offer a huge selection of flower colors and shapes.

Climbing roses: Suitable species 

Which type of climbing rose you choose depends on what you later expect from the flowering climbers. The actual climbing roses provide:

• Multiple flowering
• Growth height: 1.5 - 3 meters
• Thick, upright shoots
• Flowers solitary or in clusters
• More compact growth
• Bigger flowers

If you want to go higher, choose rambler roses. These are characterized by:

• once flowering
• Growth height: 6 - 10 meters
• Good growth
• Medium strong and elastic shoots
• Lots of little flowers

Thanks to intensive breeding, there are now also rambler rose varieties that bloom several times a year. But the number of flowers is not quite as impressive.

Climbing roses: the most beautiful varieties

Depending on the variety, climbing roses bloom in white, salmon pink, orange, and shades of pink or red. They also differ in the shape of their flowers. There are single to very double flowers. When the flowers appear also varies from variety to variety. Here are a few particularly beautiful climbing rose varieties that bloom more often:

• compassion: Double flowers of light salmon pink; strongly fragrant; growth height: up to 2.5 meters; Flowering: June - November; hardy; ADR rose
• Florence: Intense red double flower; light fragrance; growth height: up to 3 meters; Flowering: June - September; hardy
• moon light: Semi-double flower in lemon yellow; strong fruity fragrance; growth height: up to 2.5 meters; Flowering: June - September; hardy
• elf: Double flower in creamy yellow with green tinge; delicate fragrance; growth height: up to 3 meters; Flowering: June - September; conditionally hardy; ideal for sunny locations
• Aloha: Very double flower in apricot; strong fragrance; growth height: up to 2.5 meters; Flowering: June - October; conditionally hardy

A larger selection of Climbing Rose Varieties of the most diverse flower colors and shapes can be found here.

notice: Look out for ADR roses when buying. These are particularly resistant and tested.

Caring for climbing roses

The rose is also considered the queen of flowers. The older climbing roses get, the more beautiful and lush they bloom. But in order for your plants to shine in majestic splendor year after year, the care has to be right. The following must be observed:

• Watering: Frequently during the growth period, then only after longer periods of drought
• Cleaning out faded flowers
• Remove diseased and broken plant parts

We only water from below to minimize the risk of fungal infections on the leaves. In addition, it is not poured in the blazing midday sun. After heavy watering or rain, the soil around the roots is loosened. This prevents compacting of the soil and the roots get enough air again.

Fertilize climbing roses

A queen must also be treated royally. Like Marie-Antoinette, only the finest must be used for climbing roses, and in reasonable quantities. That's why there are special rose fertilizers like ours on the market Plantura organic rose fertilizer, which is adapted to the majestic consumption of nutrients. Another fertilizer can also be used. Cattle manure, for example, would be an inexpensive alternative. Just make sure that an organic fertilizer variant ends up in the shopping cart. This has a longer depot effect in the soil and is also more environmentally friendly than the mineral alternatives.

Climbing roses are fertilized twice a year:

• early April
• End of June after flowering

The fertilizer is carefully worked into the loosened soil around the roots. Freshly planted roses do not need fertilizing in April. They are fertilized for the first time after the first flowering.

Climbing roses overwinter

In autumn, the climbing roses are prepared for the winter. For hardy varieties like 'Golden Gate', light protection against drying out and frost is sufficient. This involves piling up soil at the base of the plant. Partially hardy varieties like 'Rosanna' need a little more care. For extra protection from the sun and wind, wrap the more delicate plants in a 2 meter high willow mat. If shoots are still climbing over the cover, they are covered with sackcloth.

Cutting climbing roses: when and how to proceed

By pruning your plants, you encourage the formation of new flowers and a nice branched growth. For this purpose, newly formed side shoots are cut back once a year to a length of 2 to 5 eyes. The cut is made at an angle about 5 mm above an outward-growing bud. The timing of pruning depends on whether you have chosen a once-flowering or multiple-flowering variety.

• Spring: Climbing roses that bloom more often
• Autumn: Once blooming climbing roses (after flowering)

For plants that have flowered once, only shoots that previously flowered are removed. The rule here is: less is more. In the case of varieties that bloom more often, pruning should only take place when there is no longer any danger of frost. In addition, 1 - 2 main shoots are removed per year. Remaining new shoots are pulled along the trellis and fastened. Regardless of the variety, you should regularly clean out wilted flowers and remove diseased parts of the plant or parts of the plant that have been damaged, for example, by the winter. Shoots of the wild rose rootstock are removed, otherwise they will overgrow your beautiful hybrid tea.

Here you can find out more about the right one Care of climbing roses.