Lady Hillingdon Rose Pruning

The "Lady Hillingdon Climbing" rose (Rosa "Lady Hillingdon Climbing") is a yellow-flowered climbing tea rose, which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5b through 9. It is a sport or spontaneous genetic mutation of "Lady Hillingdon" (Rosa "Lady Hillingdon"), a shrub rose with identical yellow blooms. "Lady Hillingdon Climbing" can reach a height of 15 feet, with a spread of about 8 feet, making it suitable for large trellises and arbors. Like most climbers, it benefits from periodic pruning.

Before Pruning

Before pruning "Lady Hillingdon Climbing," it is important to understand both the way the plant produces flowers and that tying or training the canes is part of the pruning process. Climbing teas like "Lady Hillingdon Climbing" flower on what's called new wood -- canes that are produced in the same year as the flowers that eventually sprout from them. These roses send out vigorous vertical shoots, but produce flowers most abundantly when the weaker vertical shoots are pruned back and the stronger ones are positioned and tied to supports so that at least part of each shoot is growing laterally.

First-Year Pruning

Pruning in the first and sometimes second year of "Lady Hillingdon Climbing's" life in the garden should encourage more lateral growth. Always prune out dead canes or those that appear weak. After pruning, position and tie vertical shoots so they grow outward from the center of the plant in all directions. Avoid crossing shoots and create as many laterals as you can. Later in the first season, when new vertical growth sprouts from the laterals, prune it back to about one-third the length of each vertical shoot.

Subsequent Pruning

After the first or second year, prune out dead growth annually, especially after winter. Continue the process of training the young shoots, tying to promote laterals and clipping the new growth to force the plant to put energy into flower production. This process is easier if "Lady Hillingdon Climbing" is trained on a trellis, but can be done in modified form for plants trained on pillars or arches. The one rule to remember is that too much vertical growth without proper pruning and training results in fewer flowers.


Spring and fall are good times for pruning, though deadheading of repeat bloomers like "Lady Hillingdon Climbing" can take place as the flowers fade. Always use sharp shears or clippers for both pruning and deadheading. In pruning and tying the strong vertical shoots, arrange the shoots so there is good air circulation between them to prevent diseases. A mature "Lady Hillingdon Climbing" pruned and trained properly on a trellis, should have a rough fan shape, with canes covering as much of the support as possible.

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