Training a Climbing Rose as a Freestanding Fountain: Know Your Climber Type

Gardener wants to grow a climbing rose as a fountain-shaped bush without trellis/arbor blocking house view.

Two Climber Types

• Sport climbers (bush rose mutated): stiff, vigorous, rampant canes. Hard to keep bushy; pruning makes them more aggressive.
• Bred climbers: naturally shrubby. Cut to 4 feet; regrows to ~6 feet. Summer tall canes can be trimmed anytime.

Identify Yours

Thick, stiff canes = sport. Flexible, branching = bred. Try hard pruning either way—you won't kill it, just annoy a sport.