Question
I garden in coastal Connecticut, zone 6, about halfway between Boston and New York. I have a New Dawn climber that is about 7 years old and covering an arbor. The lower canes have gotten more and more bare, so that this year I have hardly any growth on the pillar (the vertical support). The lower canes are old and not green. On top of the arbor, the rose is blooming though it has never repeated as promised. What should I do to rejuvenate this rose and getting some growth down at the bottom?

Answer
There are roe that are described as "leggy" which means they don't put out many basal canes from the bottom. There is really nothing you can do to make them make more canes form the base as that is the normal way New Dawn grows. I would cut back about two canes right down to 2 feet and you will see new laterals break out from below the cut. I wouldn't do anymore this year but wait until next year and cut another two canes back and that won't be such a shock to the rose.  In regards to the second bloom, New Dawn requires more fertilizer after the first flush plus lots of water and then you will get another good flush.