I’ve realised two things. Firstly, you can never have too many climbing roses – which is just as well as we’ve just taken delivery of lots for our new walled garden from David Austen, Peter Beales and Trevor White roses. Secondly, how magnificent many roses look if allowed to grow as big as they really want to, rather than being constantly clipped to stay within the limits imposed by our gardens.
There are two types of climbing roses – climbers and ramblers. The major difference between the two is how and when they flower. There is a simple rule. Ramblers only flower once for a maximum of six weeks in summer and tend to have many more and smaller flowers than a climber. Many ramblers are also very vigorous, such as ‘Kiftsgate’, which we have here at Columbine, covering the stump of an old ash tree at the end of our bog garden.
They also produce their flowers differently. Climbers form their flowers on new wood that grows in spring before flowering, whereas ramblers do so on the growth that took place in summer and autumn after flowering.
It follows from this that the two types of roses need very different pruning regimes. Put very simply, ramblers should be pruned after they have flowered and climbers before they flower.
The best time to prune climbing roses is in late autumn, although they can be done as late as March or April. The idea is to create and maintain a two-dimensional framework of approx five long stems trained laterally and tied to wires with side branches breaking all the way along these main stems. It is these side branches that grow vigorously in spring and carry the flowers. Ideally, a third of the plant is removed right to the ground each year – the oldest, woodiest stems – so that it is constantly renewing itself. Left unpruned, a climber typically becomes very bare at the base with a cluster of flowers right at the top or at the edge of a complete tangle. If you do have such a tangle, then the best thing to do is to prune it all back very hard and start again.
Ramblers are even more prone to create a complete and very thorny tangle, often a result of trying to restrict too vigorous a plant in too small a space. The best option for a rambler is to plant it up the side of a tall tree and simply let it grow.
It’s so exciting getting to the planting stage with the new walled garden and not only are we planting climbing roses up the walls we are also putting in fragrant jasmines, honeysuckles and wisteria plus a kiwifruit.
July is a month to relish. It is a time of plenty with meals eaten outside on warm summer nights. So I’m going to take time to sit and eat, enjoy a glass of what most tickles my fancy and watch the dusk wrap itself gently around the garden.
Kate Elliott came to Columbine Hall in 1997 when she was sixteen. She is now head gardener but also helps with managing the property generally and in conducting guided tours.