How to train and tie-in climbing and rambling roses


Training a climbing or rambling rose allows you to direct the growth of your roses for even coverage. However you decide to grow and train your climber or rambler, it will need tying-in to secure it to the support structure. Training climbers or ramblers up structures, such as arches or fences, brings blooms up to eye level, creating a splendid floral feature. 

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What is tying-in?

Tying-in is when you tie stems of the rose to the supporting structure using strong garden twine or Flexi-Tie to help the rose 'climb', keeping it secure and preventing it from breaking.

How to tie-in a climbing or rambling rose

English Shrub Roses

Loosely tie the stems to the structure, allowing them space to thicken with age and to facilitate untying if required during pruning. Pay attention to where you are training that part of the rose to grow. You are aiming to create good even coverage, filling in any gaps.

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How to tie-in a climbing or rambling rose

Loosely tie the stems to the structure, allowing them space to thicken with age and to facilitate untying if required during pruning.

Pay attention to where you are training that part of the rose to grow. You are aiming to create good even coverage, filling in any gaps.


How to train a climbing or rambling rose

1. Training a rose up a wall or fence

By training a fabulous, fragrant climbing or rambling rose up a wall or fence, you can convert a dull, even unsightly area into one of the most stunning features in your garden. There are a number of ways of supporting your rose as it 'climbs' the wall or fence, we recommend setting up straining wires or using a trellis.

If using a straining wire as a support:
Place the lowest straining wire 60cm from the ground, repeating every 30-45cm up the wall or fence, up to the mature height of the rose. The span on the straining wires should cover the width you want the rose to fill. Use vine eyes every 1.5m along the length to hold the wire in place and stop it from sagging.

If using a trellis as a support:
Attach the trellis securely to the wall and tie-in directly.


HOW TO TRAIN UP WALLS AND FENCES

Encourage side shoots by fanning out the stems left and right into the available space, tying in as you go, aiming to create good even coverage. 


Training a Rose up the front of a House or around a Doorway


Whether you have a country cottage, Victorian villa or suburban semi, a rose scrambling up the house facade creates a welcoming entranceway, transforming your home. To make a strong statement, choose a rose that either complements or contrasts with the colour of your front door.

HOW TO TRAIN UP THE FRONT OF A HOUSE OR DOORWAY

Support the rose with trellis or straining wires running horizontally at intervals of 30-45cm. As the plant grows encourage side shoots by fanning out the stems into available spaces.

Training a Rose up an Obelisk or Pillar


An obelisk or pillar adorned with roses adds a strong vertical dimension to a border. Create a beautiful focal point in the centre of a bed, or place two or more along a long border to inject a visual rhythm.

Training a Rose up an Obelisk or Pillar

For pillars, train the stems in a spiral around them to encourage the flowers from the ground upwards. Tie-in at 20cm intervals, attaching the rose to the pillar. For obelisks, train a couple of the main stems straight up to the top of the structure. Then spiral the other stems around the structure, tying-in as you go - this encourages flowers from the ground upwards. Once the stems have reached the top regularly prune to keep them within bounds. 

Training a Rose up an Arch


An arch is perfect for linking different areas of a garden and forming an entranceway with flowers overhead.

Training a Rose up and over an Arch

For an arch, train your roses on either side of your arch, upwards and over the top of it, tying-in to the arch as you go. You are aiming to create an even coverage with your two roses meeting in the centre point at the top of your arch.

Training a Rose up a Pergola


Pergolas are simply timber frames which can be used to create a walkway or provide a shady area to sit beneath.

Training a Rose up and over Pergola

For the uprights of your pergola, train your rose in a similar manner to training it up a pillar; training the stems in an upwards spiral. For the canopy above, first train a rose up one of the uprights, then, once the rose reaches the top of the structure. begin to tie-in shoots to the cross beams to create the 'roof'. You are aiming to cover the whole structure in blooms.

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