I have long wanted to create something for a climbing rose. I’m not looking for anything gigantic. I saw a climbing structure in the local variety store today that’s the right size and shape but I question whether it is actually sturdy enough.
This is what I was looking at today: Cascade Meadows Spiral Leaf Garden Arch, 92 IN H - Bi-Mart
I sort of thought if I beefed up the posts by attaching rebar or a T-post, but what about the top? Would a climbing rose - again not a gigantic monster of one - really be so heavy as to bend this frame?
Many structures like this look nice but are made of thin material. The product description conveniently left off what gauge steel was used. That probably means thin. Also at $130 it can not be heavy weight. I expect you would have to add rebar through out. The second consideration is the growing habit of the climber. They want near horizontal main cains with space to shoot up the laterals. I think it would be difficult to get the main canes wrapped back and forth on the side panels. These structures are common in garden centers, but the heavy duty ones cost more like $400-500. On my next climber I am going with a cattle panel between two buried 4x4 posts. Simple design but super strong and plenty of room for the main canes and full sun exposure. You would have to build it but total parts would be less. The panels give you 4"x4" squares to work with and then you can get them in 4x8’ or 4x4’ sheets. We spend time and effort to get the rose to grow perfectly, we certainly don’t want the structure to fail.
Thank you! That was exactly my thoughts, they are rather flimsy. I’ve been considering a cattle panel structure, easy enough to get the materials for that. I have a couple 16’ panels I’m not using that I could put between posts and then bend them over at the top. I really want an arch of some sort, it just delineates my path between front/back gardens and adds a touch of privacy into the back.
I’m curious, are you planning to use one cattle panel for a climber, and tie the main canes horizontally, what will happen to the ones that make it to the top of your panel? If you use 8’ I think you’d be fine, and of course depends on what climber you’re growing.
The only climber I have is Eden, and its main canes are so thick and heavy that training them horizontally, I gave up. I just let it grow, the canes go up and arch over like a fountain and the whole thing is just beautiful. It tops out around 7’ for me, so that works out okay.
ETA: Duh! I have a second climber, it is a mini called ‘Pink Above All’. It’s another that gets about 7’ high and fountains out beautifully.
I agree about many of this type structures being flimsy and wrought iron will rust over time. My husband built me a trellis from wood columns and copper pipe that goes across at 4 different levels. The wood columns are topped with copper caps to dress it up. The oldest rose in my 285-bush garden near Atlanta is the climber Don Juan and it’s is 30 years old. It has been growing on this trellis about 26 years. As you see in the photo, I have it espaliered out to both sides on the trellis. He also made me a smaller version for another part of the yard and it was written up in American Rose magazine. He is glad to share the plans. Whatever you choose, make sure it will last!
I really like the post/pipe solution as well. Its clean and simple.
To your initial reply, yes we need to be clear if you want a wall like I proposed or an arbor that is essentially a gateway into an outdoor room. For the arbor, you could still use the cattle fence but now you want to use your 16 footer to go up and bend over gently such that it does not break. Then probably a solid post (4x4 or metal T-post) in each corner. That should provide the strength and still be tall enough to walk through. The goal is normally to have the support structure so covered that you don’t see it.
To your question on my flat solution, yes the shape depends on the species being grown. A 4x8’ panel could be 4’ wide and 8’ tall. Then a second 4x8 could be put next to it to expand width-wise. Key is to set the posts in concrete so you have a solid foundation. Of course you could do the 8’ wide 4’ tall with just keeping it off the ground by a foot or so you effectively have 5’ tall. Key would be what you think the final shape of the bush will be for this flat solution.
You have many choices but like all construction, start with a solid foundation first. Good luck!
Thank you Mark. I want an arbor. It is a gateway into another ‘room’. I can get 10’ T-posts too, structural integrity will not be a problem!
Overall, it needs to be a good 7’ tall - maybe 8 in the center, and about 5’ wide between sides; wide enough for a wheelbarrow, wide enough to not brush up against any canes when walking thru. Panels tipped up are going to be 4’ wide, plant the bush in the middle? Then plan to train canes horizontally along the fence? Is 4’ wide enough?
I saw a picture of a climbing rose on a pergola attached to a house. The posts had to be 12x12’s; they were pretty solid. They had taken the canes and wrapped them around the posts all the way up. It was really stunning! If I can find the picture again I’ll post it.
