Using climbing and rambling roses to cover walls

By training a fabulous, fragrant climbing or rambling rose up a wall or or fence, you can convert a dull, even unsightly area into one of the most stunning features in your garden. It draws the eye up from the ground, providing colour and blooms at eye level. Similarly, placing a rose behind a border on a wall or fence will increase the impact and visual depth of the bed.

USING CLIMBLING AND RAMBLING ROSES ON WALLS

Guide to planting near a wall or fence

We’d recommend planting your rose around 8” (20cm) away from the wall or fence. The hole you’re planting in should be 16” (40cm) in diameter. Place the rose in the middle of the area you would like to cover, fanning the stems out either side. For fences, avoid planting against the post due to concrete in the ground. When covering a large area and planting multiple roses, make sure you space each individual rose out by the same distance as their established height.

How to plant climbing roses

Watch our video or read our step-by-step guide on planting a potted climbing rose.
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Watch our video or read our step-by-step guide on planting a bare root climbing rose.
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Supporting and training a rose on a wall or fence

Place the lowest straining wire 2ft (60cm) from the ground, repeating every 12-18” (30-45cm) up the wall or fence, up to the established height of the rose. The span of the straining wires should cover the width you want the rose to fill. Use vine eyes every 5ft (1.5m) along the length to hold the wire in place and stop it from sagging. Alternatively, support using a trellis attached to the wall and tie-in directly onto the trellis.

As the rose grows, encourage side shoots by fanning out the stems left and right into the available space. Tie in as you go, aiming to create good, even coverage.

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