Climbing Roses Add Beauty and Splash to Your Garden

Climbing roses can be spectacular. They can climb up a trellis, fence or the side of your house. There are a large variety of species to choose from. Be sure to choose a variety which will flourish in your setting.

Choosing the Right Climbing Rose

Make sure to put the right climber in the right place. Not all climbing roses have the same habits and you may be stuck pruning endlessly with no blooms, or be overrun with pests.

Sunlight

Most roses, including climbing roses prefer a very sunny location. However, there are several varieties which will do well with less that that. Check with your local nursery or on line garden center for species which can take some shade, but will still reward you with vigorous blooming.

Most climbing roses with bright colors such as red or orange will need as much sun as possible. However, some of the paler plants can tolerate some shade. So if you have a spot which does not get full sun, try looking for white, pink or pale yellow climbing roses.

Height

There are a large variety of sizes for climbing roses. Some will only grow to six to ten feet. These are the type to look for to train to grow up a trellis or along a fence. Other varieties can grow up to thirty feet or more. If you put one of these climbing roses in a small spot, you will be pruning endlessly and will probably be pruning off blooms. If you have a very sturdy fence, or want your climbing rose to climb the side of your house, one of the larger varieties might be for you. Otherwise, most gardeners will probably want to stick with the smaller varieties.

Disease Resistance

As with most roses, climbers can be susceptible to pests and disease. Again, check the variety you plan to purchase for its resistance to these nasties. If you don't have very much time to spend spraying your roses against fungus and pests, try to purchase a more disease resistant variety.

It would be a shame to either have to spend hours spraying and fussing when you don't want to, or to lose your gorgeous flowers to aphids, beetles or fungus.

Bloom Times

Again, before purchasing your climbing roses, check the blooming period for that particular species. Some of the most spectacular species have only short blooming period during the Spring. Don't rule these varieties of climbing roses out however. Just be aware that you will need some other bloomers around them to balance out the rest of the growing season.

Check other varieties as well. There are many which have much longer blooming times. You can easily have climbing roses in bloom from the Spring through the Fall. In addition, if you have the space and just love one of the varieties with a short bloom time, try to add another climbing rose to the space, or add another climber all together like a clematis.

Water

Since most climbing roses prefer full sun, you should be prepared to give them a good amount of water. It is always best to water at the roots if possible and keep the leaves and petals dry.

You should water your climbing roses when the ground starts to appear dry. If you over water, the roots of the plant will never have reason to branch out and seek water. However, you should be sure to give plenty of water. Better to give good, deep waterings and skip a day or two in between.

Other Considerations

Color is something to consider when purchasing climbing roses. Chances are that your climbing roses will be among the most visible plants in your garden. So choose a color that mixes nicely with the background and which will make you happy!

Fragrance is another thing to consider when purchasing climbing roses. If you are putting your roses in a well-traveled spot, you might want to pick a variety with a terrific scent. This way, each time you walk by, you can get a whiff of something heavenly!

Enjoy the Beauty

Whatever variety you choose, your garden will surely benefit from the addition of climbing roses. They are a beautiful addition anywhere there is sun and something for them too climb on.