ET

In focus: climbing roses (Filed: 14/07/2001)

The precious last rose of summer is likely to be cut from a climber, reckons Fred Whitsey

Growing tips

IF the true spirit of the summer garden is enshrined in one single component, it is surely in our climbing roses. Not in the formal rose bed, or even the old-fashioned roses that flower so briefly, but in the climbers cascading from wall and fence, embowering arches and pergolas, and garlanding ropes slung between posts - a well-loved and enduring garden convention.

Enduring beauty: Compassion has a wonderful scent and flowers from June until Christmas

Sheltered by walls, climbers can open their flowers before all other roses as though determined to be first to declare that summer is here. And the precious last rose of summer, lingering into the short dark days, is likely to be cut from a climber trained to a wall.

Climbing roses live longer than others, too. As you go around gardens that open to the public just now, you often see, reaching up to the eaves of houses, roses with stems thick enough to be called trunks.

Not often in a lifetime of gardening do you have to replace a climbing rose. So it is important to choose the right plant from the start.

Since climbing roses usually occupy exposed, key positions, as well as quite a lot of space, only the best will do. But remember, as you ponder shapes, colourings and romantic names, that you will also have to consider some tiresome practicalities.

Choose carefully: climbing roses live a lot longer than other roses

First you must know how your climber grows. Too often, true climbers and ramblers are confused. However, their parentage differs, giving them quite separate modes of growth.

Ramblers renew themselves annually from near ground level making a fresh new growth many feet long. Without annual pruning after flowering, allowing the new to supplement the old (rather like treating raspberry canes) they can become a bewildering tangle.

Climbers are better behaved. They flower on twiggy wood that springs from an enduring framework.

In between the two extremes is a series that each year makes new, long wood from points partway up the old. Our much-loved 'Albertine' is a prime example. You have to cut heavily from these roses in late summer and tie in the new wood before it lurches out and claws at you as you pass.

For practical purposes, then, true climbers are a safer investment, especially on fences and for planting against what little wall space is left between the broad windows of modern houses. These tend to go on and on all through the summer and autumn instead of giving their all in one magnificent flourish.

As a result of their restrained ways, true climbers are best for planting against arches and pergolas if you don't want to be scratched as you walk through.

At the top of my own list of varieties, I would put Handel, whose flowers of white, edged with cerise are of cut-flower quality. Next, I put the near-unique pink 'Zephirine Drouhin'. It may get mildewed in dry years but it is that blessed thing, a rose without a thorn.

The rose expert Mark Mattock shares my strictures on rampant rambler roses. So I asked him which varieties he favoured for our shared purpose.

His first choice was the light salmon Compassion. "Flowers from June until Christmas," he said. "And the scent is wonderful."

He reminded me too of the old 'Pink Perpetue', whose deep pink flowers have been known to win prizes for specimen blooms. He also put in a good word for another veteran, 'New Dawn', of classic, pale pink colouring and sweet perfume.

Recent seasons have seen the rise of a new series - the patio climbers. Restrained in growth, they seem to me perfectly tailored for obelisks and pergola pillars.

Though limited in range so far, they do include a yellow in Laura Ford and an orange tint in Warm Welcome. A special advantage of these is that they flower from near ground level right to the top.

Growing tips

Dig a large hole for each plant and enrich the soil with plenty of rotted manure. This is important when planting against house walls, where there is likely to be an accumulation of rubble. Also add slow-release fertiliser. To encourage roses on pillars to flower plentifully, wind the main growths round the supports in serpentine fashion, tying them to the encircling wires placed at 12in intervals. Prune by shortening the side growths to about 6in in late winter. Tying the main growth obliquely to horizontal wires increases the number of flowering twigs formed.

Further information

Plants by mail order from Mattocks Roses, Oxford (01865 343454; www.mattocks.co.uk).

Gardens of the Rose, Chiswell Green, St Albans, Hertfordshire, has a large variety of climbing roses. Open daily until Sept 30.

Royal National Rose Society (01727 850461; www.roses.co.uk/harkness/rnrs).

Mark Mattock's new book, 'Roses for Small Gardens', will be published by Quadrille in September.

-- Anonymous, July 20, 2001