Hi all, I was just wondering if anyone could provide any words of wisdom on helping me train my New Dawn climber. I have attached a photo as well. The rose is robust and putting off many new, stiff canes. When I try to train them horizontally as soon as they are long enough, they tend to snap. At this rate, it’s starting to look like Medusa’s head. Many thanks in advance!
Your arch arbor is way too small for a New Dawn rose. My mom has a pergola that is 12 foot by 20 foot and the New Dawn ate it. I would select another rose for this area and relocate the New Dawn to climb an out building or a tree.
Thanks. I’m probably not going to cut it down that aggressively mid season, so may start training it to the fence on either side of the arch for now. When and how would you relocate to minimize the trauma on the rose if I decide to do this?
Transplanting roses is best done when they are dormant. Typically after the leaves have dropped off all the deciduous trees through January. You could cut the canes to about 5 feet and then use bungee cords or rope to tie up the canes so you can move it without getting too scratched up.
I tie a string to the long canes to try and bend them to my liking. Also you could trim off some shoots if they are not going in the direction desired. Keep dead-heading to have continuous blooms. Any excess cuttings can be given away to friends to propagate (after blooms are spent).
Jemima Seetha - Miami Valley Rose Society - Dayton, Ohio - Consulting Rosarian