Helping Your Roses Climb Properly On A Fence
Climbing roses add a sophisticated beauty to any landscape. They also provide a little privacy when trained properly to grow up a chain-link fence. If you want the beauty and awesome aroma of roses in your backyard, use this guide to help you plant the roses and then train them to grow horizontally, clinging to the fence.
Gather Your Supplies
- shovel
- scissors
- pantyhose
- climbing rose plants
- compost or fertilizer
- garden hose
- small pruning shears
Plant the Roses
Look at the root base of the rose plant and dig a hole that is about twice the size of the roots length. The best place for the hole is several inches away from the fence. You'll want the hole as wide as it is deep to allow for proper root spread.
Insert the plant into the hole and cover with the remaining dirt. Spread the compost around the base of the plant and water the area until the ground is completely wet, but not so soggy that your foot sinks into the ground. If using fertilizer instead of compost, follow the directions on the package to ensure that you apply the proper amount.
Create Privacy
Repeat the planting step all the way down the fence, along the area that you want blocked from neighbors or traffic. Space out the plants a foot or two apart so the roots beneath the soil have enough room to spread out.
Train the Roses
Cut the pantyhose into thin strips. Use these strips to tie the stems and vines of the climbing rose plant to the chain-link. Remember that these plants typically grow best and climb if you tie them facing up versus sideways.
Check for new stems weekly. As new stems appear, tie them to the chain link as well.
Prune your roses when you see dead buds by clipping them off with the pruning shears, at the base of the bud. However, keep in mind that many climbing rose plants don't need pruning that often and you may find that the dead buds fall off on their own.
As the climbing rose plants begin to grow, the more privacy you'll have in your backyard landscape. Enjoy the beauty and scent that these plants provide, as well as any butterflies and birds that decide that visiting your backyard is a great joy. Ask your landscaper (like Rock Solid Services LLC) for help should you encounter any issues with your climbing roses as they are growing.
