Will the 'Don Juan' Rose Bloom on New Wood?

About "Don Juan"

• The brilliant red blooms of "Don Juan" have graced U.S. gardens since the plant was introduced in 1959. "Don Juan," which grows from 8-to-15 feet long, is suitable for U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. It classified as an everblooming, large-flowered climber and blooms with a large flush of flowers in late spring, then off and on until cold weather ends its season. The flowers are highly fragrant and have an open form with up to 35 ruffled petals and yellow stamens. It performs best in full sun with soil that drains well and where it has good air circulation to avoid fungal disease.

About Climbing Roses

• Climbing roses come in two main types, ramblers and climbers. Ramblers are often old-fashioned varieties that you can identify by their markedly vigorous growth and the length of their flexible canes, which can easily reach 20 feet long or more. Ramblers bloom only on 2-year-old canes and are pruned by removing the oldest, longest canes at the base after blooming. Climbing roses commonly bloom on the new wood that grows from old canes -- short stems, called laterals. Some produce smaller versions of hybrid tea roses on thin, flexible canes, while others produce large flowers on long sturdy canes that can be trained to a support or stand on their own. Commonly only old, dead canes and lateral stems are pruned from climbers, not any length from the canes.

Pruning "Don Juan"

• For the strongest growth, don't prune your newly planted "Don Juan" for at least two years. Climbing roses, even those that bloom on new wood, may not be mature enough to bloom when you first plant them. Allow the canes to put on length until entering their third season. In late winter or early spring, just as buds begin to emerge, cut all the laterals back to the second bud from the cane and remove the top one-third of canes to prompt new growth. Deadheading laterals keeps the plant blooming all summer. Stop pruning in early fall to avoid tender growth that be damaged over winter.

Training "Don Juan"

• Because of its sturdy canes, you can train "Don Juan" as a pillar rose against a fence post or other upright support, and it will bloom along its length. You can also manipulate the canes and tie them in a fan shape, bending the canes so they are more horizontal. This prompts the most bloom because horizontal canes send up more lateral shoots, each of which will bloom.