Underplanting or pruning roses?

Hi everyone

I have a couple of climbing roses in a south facing border. Both are reasonably healthy, but one looks very bare - its a bit difficult to see the blossom as it's white. I'd like some advice on how I can address the bareness. Is it possible to cut back very hard or will that kill it off? It strikes me that as its a climber, this is unlikely to work.
The other possibility is to underplant, but I'm sure what to plant. Would be great if there are any suggestions, thanks

 

I'm wondering what depth of soil its roots are in? They like depth. If you do prune back hard, to encourage more stems to form from lower down, it will need an incentive - like a Rose feed or well rotted manure or Blood, fish and bone over winter and into next Spring. I would not cut back hard now as new growth will not have time to harden before the colder weather arrives. A rose expert( I'm not really) will be along to help as well,
Jenny namaste

 

Hi Jenny, thanks.
The roses are there probably 10ish years - perhaps that gives an idea of root depth? I'm a pretty awful gardener and I'd be worried that I wouldn't maintain properly thru' winter if I cut back hard. Maybe it's safer to underplant. When you say a rose expert will be along, does that mean another forum member?
I have another rose question about planting a clematis to go through a well established climber. I'll post it later when I can take a pic of the rose.
Have a good day

 

Hi Andy
I'll have a look at the rose when I get home to see where I could cut and train it and keep you posted.
About the competition, are you referring to planting the clematis to intertwine?
Monica