Complete Guide to Pruning and Overwintering Climbing Roses
The climbing rose has relatively large flowers and bright colors, and many people have planted one at home, but they find it grows far too fast, so pruning becomes a necessity. If it is not pruned, it will not only affect its appearance, but more importantly affect its growth. But exactly how should it be pruned? Let's take a look together below.
How to prune the branches and leaves of climbing roses
1. There should be one pruning in spring after flowering. You can lightly prune at the second leaf after flowering. After pruning, side branches will grow. Most varieties will begin to produce flower buds in about forty days (when the side branches have grown seven leaves).
2. Before autumn arrives, there should be another pruning to encourage more and larger autumn flowers. This time, cut off the third batch of side branches and cut them short on the main branch, leaving a length of about 20cm, so that thick branch-like shoots grow. After pruning, it is best to apply fertilizer once within three days, so that the young plant has sufficient nutrients to grow.
3. Winter pruning is heavy pruning, cutting to 5cm from the roots or even shorter, with the aim of dwarfing the plant and controlling its shape. Of course, tree roses and climbing roses are exceptions. Tree roses and climbing roses only need the tender tips cut off, a light pruning of one third.
How climbing roses overwinter
1. For adult plants
For some plants that have already grown into adults, if you want them to overwinter smoothly, you generally pile some soil around their roots and then protect them from the cold. Then, after watering with frozen water, appropriately shorten those long branches, and then pile 20 to 40cm of soil on them. In this way, they can be fully protected from the cold.
2. For larger plants
If your plant is relatively large, then the cold protection measures should be adjusted accordingly. We can wait until its growth stops, prune it slightly, and after that, place it in a southeast-facing direction, and also prevent cold wind from blowing on it, so as to keep it better insulated.
3. For young plants
For some plants that have not yet grown to maturity, that is, relatively young plants, their root systems are relatively small and the plants also look weak, so when protecting them from the cold, it must be done more carefully. We can wait until their growth stops, and then bury them in soil for cold protection.
4. Temperature
In winter, temperature is very important for whether it can overwinter safely. Regardless of plant size, it can be moved into an ordinary cold cellar, with the temperature controlled at 0 to 5 degrees. Or it can be placed outdoors and buried in soil.
How to grow climbing roses
1. Soil
Climbing roses like fertile soil and require moist soil. Generally, when choosing soil, peat soil is chosen, plus a little leaf mold and perlite, which can improve the soil's air permeability. If you are a beginner growing climbing roses, it is best not to add base fertilizer at first. If you do add it, a slow-release fertilizer is preferable. After placing the base fertilizer, also put a layer of soil on top of the fertilizer. Do not let the roots come into direct contact with the fertilizer.
2. Watering
Climbing roses like a moist environment and can tolerate being slightly drier, but there should not be standing water. When watering, it is best to water according to the wetness or dryness of the potting soil. You can insert a chopstick into the soil to see whether the soil has dried out completely, and then water. When watering, water thoroughly, but be careful not to wash it away.
3. Fertilizing
Fertilizing should be moderate. During the growing season of climbing roses, you can fertilize while watering. Whether to use compound fertilizer or organic fertilizer when fertilizing depends on the needs of the plant.
Notes on growing climbing roses
Climbing roses like sunlight, but too much direct strong light is harmful to flower bud development, and the petals are prone to scorching. High summer temperatures are unfavorable for flowering. Maintain an environment with good air circulation, good drainage, and shelter from wind. Poor air circulation makes them prone to powdery mildew.
It seems that growing climbing roses well still requires some small techniques, such as how to water and fertilize, as well as some matters to pay attention to during the process, especially how to overwinter. The cold of winter is also a great test for it, and how to care for it becomes the key. We can carry out the operations according to the introduction above.