Growing Your Rose to the Front: Climbing vs. Rambling
Guide on Wall-Mounted Rose Climbers for Stunning Garden Spectacle - Top Picked Rose Varieties to Cultivate
A beautiful, climbing rose dressed up the front of your house can lend an enchanting, nostalgic vibe, and boost your curb appeal. However, getting that look you adore is not always a walk in the park.
There's a plethora of rose varieties out there, cherished for their distinctive colors, bloom types, and growth habits. Climbing and rambling roses are the top picks to flavour your vertical canvas, but they have their nuances.
Now, whether you're a new rose cultivator or a seasoned grower eager for a new challenge, follow these expert insights to bring a sweet-smelling, visually stunning display to life.
Climbing or Rambling Roses: Which One's for You?
First things first: picking the right rose to match your needs. Most new-school roses on the market today sport a shrub-like growth habit, but when it comes to climbing or training your bloom on a trellis or support structure, you'll want a climbing or rambling rose variety.
Here's the gist of the differences between these two flowery heavyweights:
- Climbing roses are less aggressive growers and exhibit larger, single blooms, reminiscent of popular tea rose hybrids. They require regular "deadheading," a process that removes spent flowers, to continuously flower. They sport flowers on new growth and need more frequent pruning.
- Rambling roses are more vigorous growers than climbers. Their flowers are generally smaller and come in clusters. Rather than being repeat bloomers, ramblers usually bloom once per season, but newer cultivars are altering that perception. Rambling rose canes are more flexible than those of climbing roses. Roses produce flowers on old canes.
No matter which type you opt for – climbing or rambling – they'll both play nicely on a vertical surface. Your decision boils down to personal preference.
Check out our curated rose selection from trustworthy suppliers in our platform Shop, discovering everything from climbers to various shrub varieties.
Setting the Groundwork: Planting a Rose Against a Wall
Before training your rose to ascend your humble abode, it needs a firm foundation in the ground. Planting a rose near a wall needs some special consideration.
Pay heed to the coverage area you desire and the spread of your chosen rose cultivar. Place the rose in the center of this area, around eight inches (20 cm) away from the wall. In areas with hardscaping close to the wall, such as gravel, it's best to remove it as it can act as a heat trap in hot climates.
Providing Support: Trellises, Wires, and More
Unlike other vining plants, such as English ivy, roses can't cling to walls on their own. They require a support structure – a trellis, lengths of horizontal wire spaced roughly every 18 inches (46 cm), or another suitable alternative – to be trained on.
You'll need to fasten something to the wall that allows for tying rose stems. You might also consider planting a trellis directly in the ground, but the stability can be compromised as the rose grows.
If desired, pillars in front of the house could serve as suitable emerging grounds for your rose to thrive.
Fastening the Rose: Tying and Spreading
With the rose in the ground and support in place, you're ready to tie the stems. Use plant tape or garden twine to secure the branches to the support. Make sure to spread the branches out as symmetrically as possible, aiming for even coverage from the ground up.
As new canes sprout each year, secure them to the support in a way that broadens the plant's reach and encourages growth across the available space. As the rose grows larger and stronger, you may find that some ties can be removed.
Ta-Dah! Your Best Flowers to Grace the Front of Your House
Any climbing or rambling rose does the trick for adorning your house's facade, but certain varieties set themselves apart with appealing characteristics.
Take a gander at our recommended roses in our platform Shop. These standout cultivars are worth considering:
- 'America': Offers large, double blooms in a deep pink hue with salmon and coral highlights. Fragrant blooms repeat multiple times. The plant typically reaches heights of 10 to 12 feet.
- 'Crimson Glory': Displays a deep red rose color alongside dark green foliage, with large flowers that have a strong fragrance.
- 'Etoile de Hollande': A vigorous climber boasting deep pink flowers with a rich perfume.
- 'Sally Holms': An award-winning climber with pure white flowers and excellent disease resistance.
- 'Golden Gate': Provides a splash of cheer with yellow flowers that emit a delightful fragrance from summer until fall.
- 'Blaze Of Glory': An intriguing chameleon rose with ever-changing shades. Presented in everything from deep orange with pink undertones to watermelon slices, depending on the lighting.
- 'Open Arms': A smaller, continuous bloomer with pale pink single-petaled flowers that are perfect for more compact vertical spaces.
- 'Malvern Hills': A newer cultivar rambler that sprouts soft yellow flowers, continuously blooming from summer into fall.
- 'Adelaide D'Orleans': A classic rambler with excellent disease resistance and white blooms that flower once in late spring or early summer.
- 'Paul's Himalayan Musk': Offers pink flowers and is a smart pick to cover large areas when managed efficiently.
Growing a climbing or rambling rose to your house requires dedication and time, but the eye-captivating results are certainly worth the investment.
Contributor: Mary Ellen EllisExpertise: An accomplished gardener with over 20 years under her green thumb, Mary Ellen has degrees in Chemistry and Biology. Her areas of expertise include flowers, native plants, and herbs.
- For a taste of elegance in both your home-and-garden and lifestyle, consider planting a climbing or rambling rose to adorn your house's front, as these charming blooms can enhance your home's aesthetics and boost its curb appeal.
- When thinking about which type of rose to cultivate, whether it's a climbing or rambling variety, keep in mind that your selection process should prioritize a rose that matches your needs and preferences, as both types thrive on vertical surfaces.
