Climbing rose suggestions

Sandygarden

Hi all, I’ve got space to squeeze in a climbing or rambling rose, but the conditions are a bit dodgy: dry, west facing fence. Once it gets to the top of the fence it will get lots of sun, but it will be in semi shade till then. Vigorous and repeat flowering would be good and a strong pink, red or orange. Please help, there’s too much choice out there!

Lizzie27

Hi @Sandygarden, you would have to dig in lots of manure to that spot to make it more suitable for a rose and if your fence is only the usual 2 metre high, I wouldn't go for either a climber or rambler. As long as a rose can get approx. 4 hours sunshine a day, most will cope with some shade.  I would recommend a shrub rose instead, Gertrude Jekyll is a good deep pink strong rose with a lovely perfume and repeat flowers. Mine gets to about 5 ft x 3ft, possibly more. It does become rather prickly as it ages. I expect other posters will have more recommendations.

Busy-Lizzie

I've just bought an orange shrub rose called Westerland having seen it in Peter Beales Classic Roses garden in Norfolk. It can be grown as a shrub or a short climber, depending on the way it's pruned. It is repeat flowering, fragrant, has large loose bright flowers, grows in dappled shade or sun in any soil. The photos don't really do it justice, it looked stunning in real life.

Nollie

Warm Welcome is a short climber, up to 2m, I’ve found it fast-growing, very floriferous, flowers all summer from top to bottom. Single, glowing orange blooms. No scent to speak of though. Could be trained up a fence panel, but I grew mine up an obelisk. It’s in shade for part of the day.

Sandygarden

Thank you, that’s a big help. I need to stop dithering and make decision, if only I had more space... 

Obelixx

The thing about climbers and ramblers is that you can train them on wires, trellis, obelsiks, arches and the more you train them diagonally or horizontally the more they will flower so you just need to choose a rose in the colour you like and which will cope with the lack of direct sun.   There are plenty.

You will need to beef up that soil as roses are generally hungry, thirsty plants so you need to work in plenty of well-rotted compost and manure and, in its first season whatever the weather plus all future hot dry periods, remember to water.

Sandygarden

Good advice thanks. I have gone for Warm Welcome. I’m hoping it will go across the trellis strip on the fence top and I’m going to try and train it over a bright green laurel. Lots of manure to buy now. Am I right in thinking it’s manure OR michrorizal fungi not both?

Obelixx

Both.  The fungi are sprinkled on the roots and encourage a symbiotic relationship which helps roots get the best out of the soil.  The manure is worked into the soil and improves the nutrients available to the roots.