Training climbing rose

LillyTheCat

Hello,

I have a front garden and then driveway down the side of the house. Would it be possible to plant a climbing rose and train it around the corner so it covers the side wall? Have included a photo for reference! 

Mr. Vine Eye

Yep, easy peasy. So long as it's a vigorous one. Like my Malvern Hills.

That's planted on the side with the drainpipe but then trained around the corner as well.

You'd just have to be careful where you dig as it looks like you've got a lot of things running under there - drains, cables etc.

Mr. Vine Eye

That's what I'd do. urgh, got carried away, it's ended up looking like a tacky Christmas decoration. The yellow baubles are meant to be flowers 

LillyTheCat

That’s exactly what I was thinking so that’s good! Totally get they’re flowers not baubles 😊 I was thinking of The Pilgrim - would that be vigorous enough? Otherwise your Malvern Hills looks lovely 

Mr. Vine Eye

I'm not sure about The Pilgrim with regards vigour.

But Malvern Hills has the following pros:

Vigorous - for covering a large area quickly.

Very flexible stems with relatively few thorns - makes it easy to train

Bees like it

Makes hips later in the year

Attractive olive green pointed foliage with great spring colour and very healthy.

Doesn't have strong scent but the mass of flowers does give a general musky floral smell to the air nearby.

Fire

... It would need to be in the ground with widely well prep'd ground. In this case, I think the prep will make the plant. Having grown Pilgrim, I would go for Malvern. Better for bees and more vigour, I think. Ramblers are generally less fussy, I understand. 

As Mr Vine says, you look to have a drain and electrics right at the spot in the photo where you might want to plant. A spot my the front door might work if you can clear a good, deep 50cm cube.  Don't plant close to the wall it will be too dry.

I'd advise to really take your time in planning and exploring the ground. Buy a bare root in the autumn/winter. Make sure to water it through next year and feed.

LillyTheCat

Sounds like Malvern is the winner then. I have a few roses already, just not trained one in a different direction before. All the utilities go straight down which is handy so I’ll aim for the spot in the middle as that gives me a bit of room. I’m in no rush and need to get the wires up anyway so bare root is the way to go. I seem to have more success with them anyway. 

Thanks for the advice guys!

Fire

My Vine and I are a bit biased. There are lots of other good climbers out there too.

Mr. Vine Eye

@Fire - no there aren't! 😁