Question
Hello, I have a 10 year old Seven Sisters climbing rose and every so often, typically right before it blooms, like now, it sends out new shoots from the bottom which cover the blossoms, my husband says to prune the new shoots back, but I am reluctant to do so, just because I am not sure if that is the right thing to do. TO me it looks like good new growth but not sure how to handle it. Any advice?
Thanks Susie

Answer
Seven Sisters rose is what is called a multiflora hybrid and multifloras bloom on second year wood. What that means is when a new cane comes up from the base in the spring, it will not have any flowers on it but the next spring the flower buds are formed and then that cane will flower. If you cut the new canes back you are actually cutting off some of next years flowers plus next years growth.