With its vigorous growth and stunning foliage, the ‘Santana’ climbing rose is a total fan favorite for any garden. But if you want this beauty to reach its full potential and keep a great shape, you’ve got to stay on top of your pruning game. Don’t worry, though—I’ve got you covered. Here is everything you need to know to get it right.
Pruning Basics: What You Need to Know
As you might know, not all climbing roses are created equal. The big thing to remember is how often they bloom. The ‘Santana’ is a repeat bloomer, meaning you’ll get those gorgeous, deep red flowers all the way from June through October. These blooms actually grow on “second-year wood” (stems that grew the previous year), so you don’t want to go too crazy with a heavy hack-back. However, ignoring your rose isn’t the answer either! If you don’t prune it at all, the plant will age prematurely and you’ll see fewer and fewer flowers each season.
The sweet spot for pruning your ‘Santana’ is late winter or very early spring—ideally between January and March. Keep an eye on the buds; as soon as they start to swell, grab a pair of clean, sharp shears and wait for a dry day to get to work.
Step-by-Step: How to Prune Your Climbing Rose
- Cut back any dry, unbranched side shoots all the way to the main base.
- Look for weak, spindly growth and trim it back to about three “eyes” (those little bumps where new growth starts).
- Completely remove any dead wood to keep the plant healthy.
- Thin out any crossing branches that are rubbing against each other or growing in the wrong direction.
Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to prune newly planted roses, too! Giving younger ‘Santana’ roses a good trim encourages them to branch out. If you cut them back to three eyes every year early on, you’ll notice the plant fills out much better from the bottom up, giving you a much denser, lusher look.