Has this rose had it?

Could anyone tell me what to do with this? Can I cut right down into the woody bit in spring or should I just dig it up? Ideally I'd like to cut it right down to a few inches off the floor as it just grows from he top half now!

I'm spraying it for blackspot and hopefully that will be sorted next year

 

Please don't report me!

Thanks for the advice. Sadly, I have no clue what type it is as it was here when we moved in. We have a few and the others vary from half decent to a bit iffy but this one doesn't really flower and that long wooden truck at the bottom just make it look a bit daft!

I was hoping sawing it off near the base might help it. I guess I don't have much to lose really though, if it kills it I'll dig it up (in the middle of the night so there are no witnesses )

 

Thanks! I'd love to save it to tell the truth, it just looks such a odd shape as it is and gets taller each year.

I'll cut it where you say and see what happens. When is a good time of year to take the saw to it?

 

Haha, sorry. I don't think I'll get the secateurs through it to be honest. It's like a tree branch. I'll tell you what, I promise not to touch it until November, and then I'll sharpen the secateurs immediately before I touch it. If I hack it to bits with them, then I'll try cutting again lower with a fine blade saw.

 

Thank you!

 

Hi, sorry to bump and old thread, but.... I didn't have the bottle to do this in November!

Is it too late to do it now while I prune the rest of my roses? I'll leave it until next winter if not.

 

Yup. Just do it. With a chainsaw if necessary. If the neighbours complain to the Office of Correct Horticultural Procedures (OFCHoP) just tell them...........you've been advised by the Gardener's Corner Suboptimal Procedures Committee.

It wants doing, it'll live, sort it.

 

Do it !! Do it!!, otherwise you will have to wait again .

 

Thanks guys, out comes the hacksaw.... gulp.

 

Have courage! I used to let climbing roses develop like that, but since the day I took a pruning saw to the first woody stem, I've not looked back! Give it a good feed (preferably FYM, or Blood, Fish and Bone, but anything's better than nothing)
and watch all the dormant buds sprout lovely strong new growth....