Evening star., 1955-11-27
GARDENS
For Roses in Quantity,
Select Good Climbers

The ramblerS and large fiow-
Iered climbers are strong growers
land need large. strong support
The same is true of the ramblers
although we should not grow
them unless we are prepared fol
la never-ending battle with mil
dew.
The climbing hybrid teas are
1for the most part pillar roses
and do not require a large sup
port--usually one that is 8 or II
feet by 8 or 4 feet.
The exception to this rule
seems to be Climbing Radiance
and Climbing Cecil Brunner. the
Sweetheart rose. For a poly
Iantha the latter is a husky.
Parade is a strong grower and
needs to have plenty of space
in which to display its season
long parade of blooms.
Supports That Stand Free
Climbing roses can and often
should be trained on fences, al
though on a wooden fence. unless
special provision is made, they
win interfere with the painting
ON wire fences they may be tied
ito the wire. although 1t is de-
Isirable to loop the tie so that the
canes are not pressed against
the wire.
Against wall or porch. it is
desirable to erect a support
which stands out away from the
wall or woodwork several inches
so that there is air circulation.
but more important it should be
some form that permits releas-
ing so that painting may be cas-
lily done.
A framework made OF pipe
(A-in.) attached to the house
with face plates" and screws is
very satisfactory. A No. 8 or 10
wire may be stretched between
the pipes for strength.
Usually, in most situations. a
/ or 2 inch mesh chicken wire is
between the pipes and
the roses tied to it. This type
of support in inconspicuous,
long lasting, and does not re-
qnire painting. Where painting
is necessary, of the building to
which it is attached, the chicken
wire may be loosened from the
support and the whole climber
laid on the ground while the
work is under way.
Setting the Pipe Trellis
Trellises of pipe are also long
lasting and easy to make. For
IA free-standing trellis i-inch
pipe is preferable to a A4-inch
size. The pipes should be driven
2 or 8 feet into the ground to
give strength. The uprights may
be connected with cross pieces
Of pipe. although not necessarily.
They are desirable since they do
not require painting. Setting
the pipes in concrete helps to
give strengths and does prevent
rusting at the ground line. The
however, can be pre-
vented by coating the pipe with
metal paint. tar, or some other
coating at the ground
level. It Is probably easier than
setting the pipe in concrete.
CYPRESS and black locust posts
are long lasting and some prefer
them to the pipe as posts for
trellises. A weIl-cured black To-
Gust post will last for Is or 90
years, or longer.
Another method of supporting
climbing roses, one that works
well in the smaller garden, is to
use cypress stakes or pipe driven
into the ground. Connect them
with No. 10 or IL galvanized
wire. This makes a low fence
like support that is useful in
separating the different parts Of
the yard. The roses are tied di-
rectly to the wires.
Prune Climbers Each Year
Regardless Of the type OF sup
port used, the climbing roses
should be pruned each year, re-
moving the oldest wood. The
ramblers, Of course, are cut back
to the ground level Immediately
after Towering. An entirely new
top will grow.
Pruning of the large -fiowered
climbers consists of removing
from one-uuarter to one-third
of the canes--tt1e oldest ones
Immediately after the Towering
season.
The climbing hybrid teas and
hybrid tea-like climbers are
Ipruned in the early spring using
the same principles as are APP
piled TO pruning the hybrid teas.
Il. e., remove the weak and dead