Climbing roses are underutilized in most landscapes
That is too bad because they offer such versatile beauty and bring a vertical element into the garden. Climbing roses are lightly pruned and all of the leaves are removed in January. It is at this time that the camellias and azaleas are putting on their show in the shade gardens and they certainly take up the slack left by the sleeping roses.
Climbing roses are effective when grown on a trellis, arbor, or fence but most of them also need winter protection. Climbing roses are a diverse group with many different heritages, which makes this a wonderfully useful collection of roses. More climbing roses should be grown as they provide wonderful color in the garden without taking up much ground. Climbing roses are not difficult to grow. In fact, they can be downright simple - just make sure they will have plentiful sunshine, good soil and of course, a place to expand such as a trellis or fence.
Climbing roses are not true climbers in that they do not grip or wrap around an object but the roses send out long shoots or canes which can be trained over fences, trellises, and arbors. Miniature roses are popular because they are small plants that range in height from 3 to 12 inches and can be used in both outdoor landscapes and as indoor potted plants. Climbing roses are the exemption to any pruning. Climbers will bloom next year on the canes that grew this year.
Prune all side shoots back by about two thirds, or back to around three buds from the main stem. You should also completely discard some of the older shoots by cutting out at or near ground level. Prune the selected canes to 18-24” long. Cut just above an out facing dormant bud or leaf scar. Prune out the oldest of these stems to keep the shrub vigorous and healthy. In general prune out one third of the oldest stems per year.
Climbers, like bush roses, are grouped into several types with much overlapping among types. Most rose nurseries list ramblers, large-flower climbers, ever-blooming hybrid teas, climbing polyanthas, climbing floribundas and trailing roses. Climbers can also be grown in containers but they will need support. Climbers usually do well during the warmer times, but if they are not hardy, they will require a bit of protection and that means, having to mulch them, or even to trench them. There was a Victory Garden show that featured a trip to Montreal's botanical garden (I don't recall the exact name of the garden), where they had a fabulous climbing rose that wasn't hardy to their zone.
Climbers, a misleading description in itself, since these roses scramble rather than climb tend to have large flowers in small trusses on stiff stems which are easy to train onto walls and fences. Their shoots can be trained horizontally to promote new growth along their entire length. Climbers are often allowed to grow vertically - as is their normal habit. However, if grown in this way, then there are fewer shoots, resulting in fewer flowers.
Scent depends on variety. Scent was considered less important, leading to the introduction of many new varieties with no smell. This attitude has changed in the past twenty years and much more emphasis is now placed on scent