Stick trellis and wild roses

Yesterday I showed you this wonderfully rustic (can we say rickety!) trellis I made here on the ranch.  I took some new pics tonight so I could show you the progress of the roses growing around it.  Keep in mind that when we first bought this home, there was - little - to - no - landscaping.  I'm pretty pleased with how well this has done over about 7 months now.  These roses are very low maintenance (yea!) and have only been fertilized a couple of times with a basic 10-10-10.

 Here is some of the information I have read to help grow these wild beauties - although the pruning aspect still scares me!


Since these are climbing roses, they put out long arching canes.  They don't attach like jasmine or ivy, but need to be "trained" to climb the trellis (or any kind of support such as a wall, arbor, fence or post).  What I have used with great success to hold them in place is the green stretchable tape sold at garden centers or nursery's.  This type of tape will not cut or pinch off the branches like twist ties.


As far as training these climbers, I have read other articles that recommend criss-crossing the canes from the bottom up so that they will continually bloom.  Another thing, is I have planted 2, one on each side of the trellis, to grow and meet at the top.



PRUNING:  I'm truly glad to have read that it is best to leave these climbers alone for two or three years, allowing them time to grow and develop long, sturdy canes.  Keep them trained up your support with the green tape and cut off any dead or damaged stems.

I'm not sure when, or if these roses will go dormant.  They seem to keep a few blooms going thru most of the last 4 months.

From what I have read, in 2-3 years of growth, training and rose care, I should be rewarded with a flower show of roses that will be the highlight of my garden.

Any information you can supply regarding the variety of rose this is would be appreciated.  Please feel free to contribute!