rose arch dilemma

Last year I planted 2 David Austin clair austin roses against my rose arch.  I don't expect them to make much height this summer and would like to add something that will grow fast and complement the roses this summer. Any suggestions please?

Would hops mix well with roses? or would clematis be my best choice? If so, which one?

Hops would be too vigorous I feel, There's a saying in the Rose trade, Year 1 sleep, year 2 creep and year 3 leap so for a couple of year what about Sweet peas.  

Excellent idea, having some growing in the porch as we speak!

I am also adding Morning Glory and Canary creaper along with my newly planted climbing roses. Dont forget to train the roses cross ways up the arch, so some of the stems go across instead of straight up, this will promote flowers all the way up to the top.

morning glory is an excellent idea. I surprisingly had quite a few roses last year.

I've also just planted a rose to grow up an arch. On the other side I have a clematis which needs pruning back each year as t flowers on new growth and honeysuckle so I should get a long season of interest.  

I've also just planted a rose to grow up an arch. On the other side I have a clematis which needs pruning back each year as it flowers on new growth and honeysuckle so I should get a long season of interest.  

Well, I hope you've a good sense of smell Miss C, It will be an arch to linger beneath. well done. What rose is it?

I'm still confused about the difference between climbing and rambling roses, and when to prune them.  there was something recently on Gardener's World, but mine does nto really fit either category.  It's a prolific red rose climbing over a pergola, and it flowers at least twice, so in theory it's a climber?  it's very vigorous, and is hard to train over the rather delicate pergola frame.  but it flowers for so long that i don't want to be without it.  when shoudl i prune it?  and how hard?

The rose is called Waltz Time and is a really interesying colour.  I got it as a bare root though so I don't know how much it will grow this year.

http://www.jparkers.co.uk/plant-0004192--1/rose-climbing-waltz-time/

Hello Lesley 4,

Just a word of caution about hops, have a look at Adam's blog on growing a golden hop. As you can see it started off being well-behaved, and then...Be careful when you invite things into your garden!

Emma

gardenersworld.com team

Seconded on the hops. They are lovely - but they do love to ramp. You may find it's not just your arch that's covered in them!

Advice taken.  Decided to plant them away from the arch and up against a fence instead.