Old climbing rose needs TLC ideas please

  • 9 Replies
  • 2656 Views
*

kateblair

  • Newbie
  • *
  • 5
Old climbing rose needs TLC ideas please
« on: August 06, 2011, 08:26 »
we have just moved into an old cottage which has a very old climbing rose on the front. This rose has not really had much attention for some time and consequently now needs some tender loving care. It has a thick woody stem and not much greenery but has had some roses this year. The owner asked me if we would like to replace it but it seems a shame to do so.  The rose bush whilst sparse is quite tall reaching to the bedroom window and still has some new growth. What TLC would you recomend to help

*

mumofstig

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 57877
Re: Old climbing rose needs TLC ideas please
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2011, 08:44 »
Is it a climber, or a rambler? as they get pruned differently

Have a look at the base is there any recent growth there, or does it all start higher up?
If so how much higher?

First thing you can do is cut out all old brown/dead/dying twigs & branches..then you can see what's going on.

*

sunshineband

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Reading, Berkshire
  • 32056
  • Tallest Sunflower prizewinner 2014
    • A Little Bit of Sunshine
Re: Old climbing rose needs TLC ideas please
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2011, 09:26 »
If you like the flowers then it will be welll worth saving the plant  :)

As MoS said, once you know the type of rose then specific advice will help.

How tall is the rose?
Wisdom is knowing what to ignore - be comfortable in your own skin.
My Blog
My Diary
My Diary Comments

*

kateblair

  • Newbie
  • *
  • 5
Re: Old climbing rose needs TLC ideas please
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2011, 10:35 »
not sure as to type but most of stem is thicker than a walking stick there is no growth on bottom half of plant. It reaches 1st floor bedroom window at tallest and there is limited new growth nearly all at top. It has large red roses. It sits in a small flower bed at the front of the house. I suspect that the main thing is to feed the rose as properly not done for years and think that soil needs fertilising at moment bed is jammed full of montbretias with odd bit of bindweed etc.

*

kateblair

  • Newbie
  • *
  • 5
Re: Old climbing rose needs TLC ideas please
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2011, 10:37 »
in fact only thing until half way is the thick stem

*

mumofstig

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 57877
Re: Old climbing rose needs TLC ideas please
« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2011, 11:07 »
You definitely can't do any low pruning then   :nowink:

In winter I would cut back a third of the  main top shoots to the main branch to make it grow some new ones. (If this works well, you can do the same next winter as well)
Cut off all the thin twiggy bits at the top and reduce all the top side branches by about a third.

Try to tie in the branches so they are as near to horizontal as possible, they should then flower along their length, rather than just at the very top.

and yes give it a good feed  :)


*

Goosegirl

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Caton, Lancaster.
  • 8941
Re: Old climbing rose needs TLC ideas please
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2011, 17:01 »
Good advice from Mumofstig - also go to RHS website or their pruning book for pix to help out.
I work very hard so don't expect me to think as well.

*

kateblair

  • Newbie
  • *
  • 5
Re: Old climbing rose needs TLC ideas please
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2011, 09:52 »
thank you for the advice should I buy a rose feed or could I make one such using chicken or sheep manure for example

*

mumofstig

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 57877
Re: Old climbing rose needs TLC ideas please
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2011, 10:31 »
Give them some manure tea now would be good, and a shovelful of the rotted stuff over winter if you have some or Blood fish and bone :)
(personally I don't think the rose fertilisers are anything different, except in price ;) )

*

compostqueen

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • 16597
Re: Old climbing rose needs TLC ideas please
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2011, 10:37 »
They do like their feet in muck as they are heavy feeders. If it's not been pruned for ages it will flower only the top.  Some of the old roses only flower once a year but they can be amongst some of the most beautiful roses and often with a lovely scent, so I'd be tempted to nurture it and see what you get next year.  I think it only needs muck when it's starting to bud up next year. A clear out round the base would be a good idea as they do like a bit of air  :)

Good luck with it. Hopefully you can take a photo next year when it's in its full glory



xx
climbing rose

Started by hoporus on General Gardening

6 Replies
3538 Views
Last post April 18, 2010, 10:34
by hoporus
xx
Climbing Rose

Started by black diamond on General Gardening

4 Replies
1905 Views
Last post February 05, 2008, 11:59
by Selkie
xx
Help me please to find a climbing rose

Started by Zippy on General Gardening

7 Replies
2999 Views
Last post November 06, 2010, 00:33
by compostqueen
xx
My new climbing rose is dying on me.....

Started by Broadhaven on General Gardening

3 Replies
3143 Views
Last post June 08, 2010, 14:27
by Trillium
 

Page created in 0.193 seconds with 39 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |