Training New Dawn as a Free-Standing Fountain Shrub and Pruning Young Louise Odier

Your vision of New Dawn as an unsupported fountain shrub on a 5-foot fence is achievable—genetics and climate will determine the exact form.

New Dawn as Shrub

• Rich soil + long warm summer = vase-shaped fountain
• Cool climate (PNW) = tall upright shrub
• Plant on fence, allow only 3 thickest canes
• Remove all pencil-thin basal shoots
• Energy concentrates into 3 strong arches
• May stand tall, may cascade — both beautiful
• If it fails: Whack back — New Dawn is indestructible

Louise Odier (Bourbon) Pruning

• General rule: No pruning 3 years — let natural form develop
• Year 3+: Prune whole bush by ⅓ in spring
• Thereafter: Light tidy only (dead/diseased)
• Grows into magnificent large shrub
• Your climate determines final size

Climbers as Shrubs

Many climbers excel as large shrubs. My garden grows them this way successfully. You're not "wrong" to skip the trellis.

Reference: theoldrosarian.com