How to Train Roses For Climbing Structures

Choose your location. Although your trees or other structure may already be in place, plant your roses on a side of the structure where they will receive at least six hours of sunlight a day and have good drainage.

Mix your soil. Roses need quick-draining soil, so mix equal parts of compost and garden soil; this will be mixed into your own soil.

Dig holes for your roses. The holes should be big enough for the root balls of the plants and be placed 20 to 30 inches from the bases of the trees.

Place the rose bushes in their holes. The soil surface should be within 1 to 2 inches of the graft union (where the stem joins to the roots). The graft union can be above or below the soil surface, but is best placed evenly with it.

Fill the holes with your mixture of garden soil and compost. Using your hands, gently pack the soil around the roots of the plants. Pat the soil down to eliminate any air pockets.

Train your roses. Tie the main stems of the rose vines to the trees, raise them up to drape along the wall, or tie them to a trellis. Do not tie the flowering stems. Allow the vines to grow horizontally as much as possible. The roses will naturally learn to grow along whatever structure you're using.