when do i prune my climbing rose

[willowbee]

I have a young climbing rose 'iceberg'. it is its first years growth and has grown so big. When does it need pruning? Also, it didnt flower.Is that normal for the first year?

many thanks

[Clanad]

The Iceberg floribunda (many flowers) is one of the most dependable bloomers around. I have 3, here in the western U.S. where our winters are much more harsh than yours but it continues to do well year after year. Having said that, it is a hybrid (the results of a cross between a 'Robin Hood', a Pemberton bred hybrid musk (1927) and 'Virgo' a large flowered hybrid tea rose(1947) and as such it can 'go wild' on you. Determine if the branches you are seeing come from beneath the grafting point or above. The grafting point is easily reconizable just above the main roots of the plant. If the branches are coming from below this point, they are only the branches from one of the plants used to hybridize this plant and will not bloom with any dependability.

It needs lots of sun... six or more hours each day. it needs lots of water.. and inch a week, but the roots should be well drained and never stand in water. Use fertilizer sparingly, especially nitrogen rich mixes.
Prune only if you want to control the climbing habit. It was originally designed as a bush rose, but the canes will grow to 6 to 8 feet and are easily trained for climbing (mine are in decorative pillars). If you do prune, do it after the rose goes dormant or before it begins growing in the spring. Remove only enough branches to promote adequate air circulation to aid in black spot control...

Best of luck!

[willowbee]

thankyou so much for your reply. All the branches are above the graft point and it gets about 7 hours direct sunlight per day but can you tell me at what age will it flower? It is its first year of growth.

many thanks.

[Clanad]

I'd give it another season, willowbee, to see what it will do. It really is a dependable bloomer and you could have just had an off season... I've had many and sometimes they are difficult to explain. Before your actual winter sets in, mulch the root area with quite a bit of peat moss to help it make it through the winter with little damage. Being a hybrid it is susceptible to fungal infection, such as the Black Spot I mentioned.... so clean up the leaves thoroughly this fall. Let's see what it does next season. I apologize for not having a more diffinitive answer...

[willowbee]

thankyou again for your valuable insight. i appreciate it very much.
I am just beginning to make a organic herbal garden so i may post other questions haha.

Blessed be.