David Austin® Tess of the d’Urbervilles™ Climbing Rose

1. Planting: Plant or repot within 4 weeks of arrival. Choose a sunny spot where the plant can climb and spread over a wall, trellis, or arbor.  For in ground planting, amend the soil with compost and spread a layer of mulch after planting.  For container growth, use a standard potting mix and be sure containers have adequate drainage holes. 

2. Watering: During the first year, water deeply twice a week, adjusting for your local climate.  After establishment, water deeply once a week or more often in times of drought and increased heat.  Always water at the base of the plant and avoid overhead watering and sprinklers, which promote disease.

3. Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring to maintain shape and encourage new growth. For the first two years, climbing roses are establishing their roots and main framework. Prune lightly during this time, aiming to remove dead or diseased wood. Tie longer canes to your support structure like a fence or trellis and shorten any stems that don’t yet reach the structure. In years three and beyond, continue to tie any long stems to the main framework and prune short stems back by half. Remove older stems at the base, which will encourage new canes that are more productive.

4. Fertilizing: In containers, apply a balanced fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks through mid-summer.  For in-ground plantings, apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer in early spring and again in early summer.