Martin C3/4/04 6:21
We have 2 climbing roses (Handel and Spanish Beauty) which have been
slightly neglected in terms of pruning. Now, all of the new shoots are too
high up and all the flowers appear at the top of the climbers, with next to
nothing lower down.
My question is, can the roses be cut right back (to say half their size),
thereby cutting into the main stems. There ARE some shoots coming out of the
main stems below where we proposed to cut it back, but very few. The Handel
rose, has practically no lateral shoots lower down.
As long as you cut back to an eye that is going to turn into a viable shoot,
you'll be okay. Choose eyes that are facing outwards so that you don't get
criss-crossing inner stems. Cut out all weak growth.
Can the climber be cut almost back to the ground, or would that kill it.
See above.
We have looked in books, but pruning instructions of climbers are always
restricted to pruning of lateral shoots. There is nothing about cutting hard
back.
I had a Dorothy Perkins (v. well-established) in a walled garden once. My
then gardener used a chain saw or something very similar to prune it. ;-)
As long as you don't cut right back into old wood but have some eyes to
re-establish new growth, you'll be fine. To be honest, you have little to
lose - as they are now they're giving you no pleasure and not doing their
proper 'job'.
And don't forget that roses appreciate a feed now and then.
--
Sacha
(remove the weeds to email me)