Question
Lady Banks Rose needs
Hello, Lynnette
I read with interest a May 09 pruning answer you wrote about Lady Banks Rose. I have a LBR in the ground for 3 years this coming March. I am in a climate similar to Tucson, AZ, where, I understand one of the largest LBR grows.
This past summer and fall, since I've moved back in the home after tenants had been here, I've been able to give the plant the regular care it needs and it has grown considerably. It is well situated in shade all afternoon. I have tied up the growing branches with ribbon now almost to the top of the trellis along the driveway.
My question is really about how I might design the best arbor for the roses, over the single car driveway to the fascia board on the west side of the house. Of course, if I do build an arbor, my concern would be that depending on what material I used, the arbor would then block any direct summer sun from getting to the lower part of the plant, on the trellis. Vines that grow up and over/ onto the arbor, would of course have sun--but in this summer climate, likely TOO much. To address that, I have considered designing into the arbor a moderately shading shade screen on the top of the arbor, training and tying the vines underneath the shade cloth, supported by a network of plastic coated guy wire, perhaps?
The arbor from the trellis to the fascia board would be constructed with galvanized fence railing. My idea of using a network of plastic guy wire to tie the new vines to, instead of wood slats, seems to be logical, as the wire would obstruct less sunlight.
I guess it would be easy to maintain/ prune the roses once they get growing onto the arbor. The arbor would be about 8-9 ft off the ground (driveway). With the shade cloth on the top, growth would be restricted out onto (through) the plastic coated guy wire. I just wonder what I will have created if I do this; a green tunnel? :)
I sure hope you may have the time to offer some feedback, Lynnette.
I am going to try and attach a picture of the driveway, roses growing on the left and house to the right.
Thank you!
Walt
Answer
Lady Banks Rose in you
Thanks for the photo Walt, that really helps. Fist of all let me answer the question of sun getting to the base of the rose. All roses need some sun around the base for about 4 hours as this will encourage new laterals to grow and will give them vigour. But we are talking here about a Lady Banks Rose which is known for its high vigour. You can almost see the new canes growing so they wouldn't be very long in the shade before they hit the sunshine.
As for the rose getting too much sunshine, keep in mind that many of these Banks roses grow all by themselves in full sun with no protection at all, and they do just fine. Your idea of plastic coated wire is a good one as that will not go to a high heat but will the plastic go soft in high heat? What would worry me about shade cloth is that because the rose is strong and the canes might penetrate right through it. I must keep impressing on you that this rose really loves high heat and does not do well in areas that have normal summer heat. Also this rose blooms on last year's wood so you will always be pruning out the older growth canes not just the ends that are too long as that will cut off the flowers. So I wonder if the shade cloth will get in the way of pruning. Lady Banks may look delicate but once she gets going this is a very heavy rose bush and will need strong support. Don't forget that this rose once it gets your good care and starts growing, will cover your arbour in one season.
Just a suggestion, but for this large rose a basic arbour would be a couple of strong poles well secured about 6 feet apart, plastic coated wires strung horizontally 2 1/2 to 3 feet between each pole to tie firmly the main basal canes onto and finally pipe or anything strong enough across to the house with plastic coated wires place 12 inches horizontally. Then use something like gardeners plastic clips to stop the main canes falling down but leave the smaller laterals coming through to make it look graceful. These clips are easy to take off and put on again after pruning. Because this rose can get out of control so easily, make sure you prune very hard right after the rose has finished flowering. If you do it later you will be cutting off the new blooms. Hope this helps.
