Prune and train climbing roses
Regular pruning is essential to keep your climbing roses to a manageable size, and to encourage flowering. It’s easier than you think – just follow these simple guidelines:
Don’t let new shoots from the base simply grow and grow. Snip out the tips at about 2ft (60cm); this will encourage branching from the base.
Spread out and tie in new shoots as they develop. Shoots can be brittle so tie them in carefully.
Cut back shoots growing directly away from their supports.
February or early March is usually the best time for regular pruning, just as the new buds are starting to burst.
On mature plants, occasionally cut back an old branch by half – or at the base – to encourage new and more productive growth to cover the area.
Trim the previous year’s side shoots to three or four buds from the base.