Growing Climbing Roses

Welcome to the section on growing climbing roses. 

The first thing we should clarify for those wanting to learn about rose growing is that this kind of rose does not behave like a climbing vine. A vine scrambles up and holds itself in place. 

With roses, it is necessary to not only build trellis supports, but also to physically restrain the rose against those supports. Some roses with long arching canes will grow up into supports but for the most part, you’ll have to tie your climbing roses to the support you provide. 

Let me suggest you use a thick or wide supporting tie as thin string will tend to cut into the bark creating other problems. Thick twine or plastic holding clips work adequately and do not damage bark or growing shoots. 

Rules for Growing climbing Roses

The rules for growing climbing roses are pretty much the same as for any other kind of rose. 

You want to ensure they do not suffer from water stress as the first symptom of water stress is a reduction in the number and quality of blooms produced. 

You do want to use significant amounts of compost in the spring to both feed your rose and establish the microorganisms that will both protect and feed the rose throughout the summer. Generally, I throw three to four shovels of compost around the base of each climbing rose; I do not work it in but allow the earthworms to do accomplish this little garden chore for me. A task they willingly perform and enrich the garden soil even further in the process. 

You do want to use compost tea on a regular basis throughout the summer to both feed roses and possibly provide an extra measure of disease protection. 

Deadheading

Deadheading your climbing roses is also a useful exercise although with tall climbers this gardening practice is more practiced in the theoretical than in the practical sense. In other words, with a big climber – don’t worry about it unless you have little else to worry about. 

Other comments and tips on growing climbing roses would include: 

A primer on how to prune climbing roses The illustrations are mine (I'm a gardener and not an artist but you'll get the picture) and they are simplified for ease of understanding. 

Summer Bulbs

exclamation points in any garden. Who can be ignore clumps of gladiola with their rainbow colours or lilies with their amazing fragrance and garden presence? Who would want to? The summer flower bulbs listed below all bloom during the summer and you can access further information by clicking on the specific name 

General Care Tips

In general though, summer bulbs want full sunshine. The odd exception is noted. 

Summer flower bulbs also want decent soil for the most part. 

While spring flowering bulbs will thrive in poor soil, no fertility to speak of and terrible conditions of heat and cold, summer bulbs are a little more precise in their requirements. 

Good soil with compost added every spring is an excellent starting point for good summer bulbs. 

And do remember that many of these bulbs have to be dug up and stored for the winter in cold climates. 

These bulbs almost uniformly want excellent drainage. No bulb does really well in heavy clay soils or soils that hold moisture. The bulb rots. (I note that when a bulb rots, the gnashing and wailing from the gardener increases proportionally to the level of bulb death.) 

Summer Flower Bulb List

Achimenes is one of the small bulbs with lots of flowers. Not used nearly enough in container gardens or in shadier situations. 

Acidenthera 

Agapanthus 


My agapanthus won't bloom. Why?

Amaryllis belladonna is the real amaryllis, the winter flower is a Hippeastrum. Go figure. 

Anemone coronaria or windflower is a tender summer flowering bulb in reds, blues, pinks and whites. 

Babiana or Baboon Flower is a tender South African native. Here's the answer to whether you can grow it. 

Begonia are gorgeous but love the warmth (not sun) 

Bletilla striata is a member of the orchid family and a real beauty in the part shade. 

Calla lilies (Calla palustris) are superb and hardy flowering plants that will delight the bog garden grower for many years. 

Camassia are one of the most underused perennial bulbs in the garden. 

Cannas Flower Bulbs are showy tropicals you definitely want in containers or in your big beds. 

Colocasia or Elephant Ear Bulbs are spectacular tropical tubers that put on a massive foliage display and are well worth growing. Here's how to grow and overwinter them. 

Crinum or Swamp lily is a fun little bulb that is excellent for balcony gardening or bulb container gardening. 

Crocosmia are wonderful bulbs with flaming flowers. Put a few of these together in a garden bed and watch the visitors flock there in late summer. 

Dahlia are one of the four top summer blooming bulbs by the number of bulbs sold. 

Planting dahlia information here or 

Storing dahlia bulbs information here Even though they're actually a tuber and not a bulb.:-) 

Eremurus is a tuberous rooted member of the lily family that blooms in early summer but is one of the most stunning plants for the early summer garden. 

Eucomis or Pineapple Lily is a bulb that more folks should consider growing. Looks like a pineapple. Fun. 

Freesia are a gardener's dream and here's the tricks to growing them. 

Galtonia candicans has nodding, white, fragrant flowers in mid-summer. What else do you need to know? (click the link to find out) 

Gladiolus are wonderfully huge flowering and easy to grow 

Gloriosa or Flame Lily is a tender vine with a glorious flower. 
Hemerocallis or Daylilies aren't really lilies but they are easy to grow and bloom for a very long time if you follow the suggestions in this article. 

Hymenocallis or Summer Daffodil is a tender Peruvian bulb that makes an excellent mid-summer show in the garden or containers. 

Liatris or Gayfeather is a plant that should be grown much more often. There's one for every full, hot sunny garden with decent soils. 

Lilium or lilies are delightful bulbs and so easy to grow it is sinful. One of the most historic of flower bulbs. 

Ornithogalum or Chincherinchees are white summer bloomers with a funny name. Grow in shade and damp soils. 

Oxalis is one of those wonderful small bulbs for containers or the front of the perennial border. Here are the details of growing the tender species. 

Ranunculus make excellent cut flowers for summer bouquets. 
Q&A - when can I transplant my ranuncuuls

Sparaxis corms are great for containers. 

Tigridia or Mexican Tiger Flower demands specific care and attention if you want to succeed. 

Zantedeschia is also called Calla Lily and you'll want to grow this plant for sure. 
You definitely want to get some tips on calla lily garden design 

Zephyranthes are a small flowering bulb but one you can easily start and increase from seed. 

Designing Cutting Gardens

Overview

Designing a cutting garden is a great activity for those long, cold winter nights. As you peruse seed catalogs, it is easy to imagine the colors and textures of beautiful annual flowers, but until you put that plan down on paper and plant the garden, it remains only a dream. Planning a cutting garden isn't difficult, but it does take some research. You'll need to have an idea of what seedlings are typically available in your area, you'll need to order seeds for those plants you wish to include in your cutting garden and you'll need time for the seeds to grow into seedlings.

Step 1

Do your research. Some web sites allow you to look at the flowers and the variety of colors available and will tell you how high the plant grows. (See resources.) Height is important if your cutting garden backs up to a fence or a building because you want the tallest plants in the back where they won't hide the lower flowers in the front. Make lists of what you want.

Step 2

Draw out sections on your graph paper. Cutting gardens look best if they are not grown in perfect rows. Place the taller flowers in the rear, or in the middle if the garden will be viewed from all sides. Use colored pencils to help you "see" what the garden would look like. Your plan can include perennials and bulbs as well. Spring flowering bulbs like daffodils and tulips must be planted in the fall, so factor this into your plan. Keep in mind that perennials can spread each year and take up more and more of your cutting garden.

Step 3

Play around with your design. Will you have blooms all at the same time or are they spread out to give you blooms from spring to fall?

Step 4

Look at your plan and decide which plants you are likely to be able to buy at the local grower and which ones you will need to start yourself from seeds. The information about when you should plant the seeds will be included in the plant description, as well as other important information about the plant. Order your seeds as soon as you can to avoid the dreaded "backorder."

Step 5

Consider using summer bulbs such as dahlias and gladioli. They can make a huge visual impact not only in your cutting garden but in a vase as well.

Step 6

Plan your border, if the area isn't already bordered. Visit to the local home improvement store to check out the right materials for your garden.