How to take cuttings from climbing roses

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Monday, 19 August 2019 at 10:55 am

Follow these easy steps to taking summer cuttings from climbing and rambling roses.

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By taking cuttings, you can cover the walls and trellises of your garden with masses of colourful blooms for free.

The steps shown in this guide can be used on both climbing and rambling roses. The best time to take these cuttings is in July and August, when the wood of the stems is flexible but firm – also known as 'semi-ripe'.

Aim to collect your cutting material first thing in the morning, and look for short lateral stems, or pieces of stem that are still bendy. Avoid using the long extension growths that many climbers produce – these are too soft and unsuitable for cuttings, as they can't hold enough moisture to remain turgid until roots grow.

Once you've potted your cutting, ensure they're kept in warm conditions but out of direct sunlight. Ensure the compost remains damp and spray with water frequently to reduce transpiration (water loss).

Pot up the cuttings individually when you see roots poking out the bottom of the pot. When they're well-rooted, ease them out and grown on in re-used pots.

You Will Need

Secateurs or a sharp knife
Soil-based potting compost
Coarse sand or perlite

Step 1

Selecting the cutting material from the rose

Sever a length of solid but flexible wood from your climbing or rambling rose. Rosa 'Veilchenblau' (above) is in-between the two. Climbing roses have shorter lateral shoots; ramblers have longer shoots.

Step 2

Cutting the stem to lengths

Cut it into lengths of around 15cm. Snip immediately below a leaf joint and neaten up to immediately above one. Always use a sharp knife or secateurs to make clean cuts.

Step 3

Removing the lowest leaves from each stem

Remove the lowest leaves so each cutting has a length of stem as its base. If using material from the top of the shoot, nip out its tip. If it's a cutting with a heel, neaten the end with a sharp knife.

Step 4

Inserting the cuttings into compost

Fill a pot with loam-based potting compost mixed with sand or perlite. Push cuttings around the edge of the pot up to the first leaves. Water well. Cuttings may take six to eight weeks to root.

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