Rose Guide
How to Train a Climbing Rose
Train a climbing rose by tying its main canes horizontally along the support with soft ties. Horizontal canes produce far more flowering side shoots than vertical ones, giving bloom from top to bottom.
The secret to a well-flowered climber is direction. Left to grow straight up, a climbing rose blooms mostly at the top. Bend the long main canes toward the horizontal and fan them across a fence, wall wires, or arch, tying them with soft, stretchy ties that will not cut the bark.
Each horizontal cane then throws out vertical flowering side shoots along its length. Add and re-tie new canes each year as the framework fills in, and prune the side shoots back in late winter.