Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
TRAINING ROSES CAN BE BRUTAL – IT'S CUT, CUT, CUT – BUT YOU GET BRILLIANT RESULTS IN SUMMER!
TRAINING ROSES Pruning is essential with rose bushes. You cut them back so they look like sticks in winter, but they’ll then produce gorgeous foliage and brilliant blooms again in spring. If you can prune, you can also train with these methods!
Standards You can do it easily and buy a bush already trained into a standard – or do it yourself. Choose a bush with a straight central stem. Cut off all other stems and branches as close to the ground and centre of the trunk as possible. Cut the top of the central stem just above a bud to encourage the bush to grow new branches at the top. Plant with a stake and cut off new stems that emerge below to prevent it becoming bushy again.
Espaliers Climbers are best for espaliers – follow the same process for standards, but be more precise with your pruning so you get the effect of your preferred espalier pattern, with the wall exposed between each extended cane.
Ramblers/climbers These don’t cling to a structure in the same way as climbers like ivy, so need to be tied to a support and pointed in the direction you want them to grow. Put up a trellis or wires along a wall and guide stems along these supports. Trim branches that want to go another way, or let them free range for a bushy effect. 19 Tamed free!
This border looks like it’s growing freestyle, but supporting stakes are hidden in the bushes to give it height and volume. And prettiness!
20 ties that bind
To train roses, use soft ties like natural twine or cut-up old pantyhose so they don’t cut into the stems.
21 to cry for!
You can train a rambling rose into a gorgeous weeping specimen by growing it up a stake and trimming lower branches.
22 Regal rules Purple roses are something special. Highlight them with accompanying yellow flowers – maybe a rambler – to make the garden royal!
23 well, hello! Got an arbour? Get a climbing rose. It’s the perfect entry to another garden room, or at your front gate, there’s no better welcome!