Propagating climbing roses is actually a lot easier than you might think! If you’ve already got a beautiful rose bush in your yard, you can easily turn it into several new plants. Here’s the lowdown on how to do it and which methods will give you the best results for your hard work in the garden.
These two methods are your best bets for success:
- Using softwood cuttings
- Propagating with hardwood cuttings
How to Propagate Climbing Roses from Softwood Cuttings
Climbing roses respond really well to softwood cuttings. A great way to do this is to simply use the trimmings you’d normally toss after pruning. If you prune your roses right after they finish blooming, you’ll have plenty of material to work with. You can take cuttings at other times, too—just make sure the weather is still nice and warm. Since the success rate is usually around one in three, I definitely recommend planting several cuttings at once to increase your odds.
Here’s your step-by-step guide:
- Grab a pair of sharp, clean pruning shears.
- Cut stems about 6 to 8 inches long from the plant.
- Make sure each cutting has about 5 “eyes” (nodes).
- Always cut the stems at an angle.
- Strip off all the leaves except for the very top set.
- Plant each cutting in its own pot filled with high-quality seed-starting mix.
- Keep them well-watered while they settle in.
Propagating with Hardwood Cuttings
If you missed the summer window, don’t worry! You can also use hardwood cuttings. Unlike the soft green growth used above, these are taken from mature, woody stems. The best time to do this is in late fall or during the winter. Look for strong, healthy wood and cut pieces about 1.5 to 2 feet long.
Once you have your cuttings, store them in a container of moist sand and keep them in a frost-free room. You’ll want to keep that sand damp all winter long. Come March, it’s time to plant them in a mix of peat and sand. As soon as you see those new roots starting to form, your new rose is ready to be moved to its permanent home in the garden!
