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Learn how to prune and train climbing roses

Free workshop offers hands-on training for roses growing on arbors, trellises, fences or walls

Sacramento Digs Gardening
BY Debbie Arrington PUBLISHED JAN 2, 2026

These gorgeous pink climbing roses are among several that grace the garden of Linda Knowles, a master rosarian. Learn how to bring out the best in climbers during a free workshop Jan. 17. Debbie Arrington

Climbing roses rank among the most perplexing plants to prune. The cuts you make can determine how (and where) the bush blooms for seasons to come.

It’s not just the pruning, but what to do with those long canes – how do you get them to bloom where you want their flowers?

Learn how to prune and train climbing roses during a special hands-on workshop Saturday, Jan. 17. Offered by the Sierra Foothills Rose Society, this free workshop is open to the public and will be held in one of the most stunning private rose gardens in Roseville.

In her garden, award-winning master rosarian Linda Knowles grows hundreds of roses including dozens of climbers. Several of those climbers grace a French-inspired allee – a walkway shaded by arches covered with roses and clematis. Her garden has been featured in national publications such as Garden Gate magazine.

Roses on arches — Linda Knowles' rose garden will be the site of the
free workshop.

“Climbers are spectacular!” says the host. “They add a charming and dramatic element to your garden. Vigorous and relatively easy to grow, climbing roses sprawl on a fence, ascend a trellis, drape over an arbor, or scramble up a tree when trained. Flowers emerge on the end of the plant's long canes in single flowers or a cluster of blooms. However, with pruning you can get more flowers all along the cane.”

The workshop starts at 10 a.m. with some training, then tackles the bushes, wrapping up about 2 p.m. after a break for lunch. Dress appropriately for the weather; this event is all outdoors. Wear gloves and long sleeves. Bring pruners or lopers.

“We will have teaching demonstrations, then practice pruning climbing roses on fences, arbors and trellises,” says Paula Agostini, society president. “Water, hot coffee and homemade soup will be available.”

Although reservations are not needed, please RSVP to Paula in advance at hapisle@sbcglobal.net.

The workshop will be held at 1032 Chippendale Way, Roseville. Use the side gate.

More details: http://sierrafoothillsrosesociety.org/

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Keywords:

roses workshop climbing roses winter dormancy arbor trellis January Sierra Foothills Rose Society pruning rose care free event weekend event Sacramento gardening

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Garden checklist for week of June 7

Afternoon highs are expected to be back in the mid 90s by midweek, then edging towards triple digits. Plan your planting and garden activities accordingly.

* Remember to water early.

* It’s not too late to transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant or other summer favorites. Make sure they stay hydrated.

* From seed, plant corn, melons, pumpkins, radishes, squash and sunflowers.

* Plant basil to go with your tomatoes.

* Transplant summer annuals such as petunias, marigolds and zinnias.

* It’s also a good time to transplant perennial flowers including astilbe, columbine, coneflowers, coreopsis, dahlias, rudbeckia, salvia and verbena.

* Let the grass grow longer. Set the mower blades high to reduce stress on your lawn during summer heat. To cut down on evaporation, water your lawn deeply during the wee hours of the morning, between 2 and 8 a.m.

* Tie up vines and stake tall plants such as gladiolus and lilies. That gives their heavy flowers some support.

* Dig and divide crowded bulbs after the tops have died down.

* Feed summer flowers with a slow-release fertilizer.

* Mulch, mulch, mulch! This “blanket” keeps moisture in the soil longer and helps your plants cope during hot weather.

* Cut back fruit-bearing canes on berries.

* Feed camellias, azaleas and other acid-loving plants. Mulch to conserve moisture and reduce heat stress.

* Cut back Shasta daisies after flowering to encourage a second bloom in the fall.

* Trim off dead flowers from rose bushes to keep them blooming through the summer. Roses also benefit from deep watering and feeding now. A top dressing of aged compost will keep them happy. It feeds as well as keeps roots moist.

* Pinch back chrysanthemums for bushier plants with many more flowers in September.

Send us a gardening question, a post suggestion or information about an upcoming event. sacdigsgardening@gmail.com

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