Some years since we visited a beautiful walled garden, and saw a stunning rose on a large pergola. My husband took a few slips, and we asked the head gardener what its name was. He didn't know!
When we got home, we looked it up on the internet, and found that it was called Kiftsgate. The slips grew really well, and it was planted on our pergola.
Boy did it grow!!! Each year it had to be pruned back hard, and the following year it seemed to grow a lot more.
I got sick of keeping the path clear of dead petals, and asked one of my sons to cut it back, which he did last year. It has now died off, a very unsightly mess. This morning I have managed to get it all down, our garden waste bin is now full, and I am turning my attention to the Wisteria, which is more invasive than the rose.
The Wisteria was cut off at the same time, I made a futile attempt this morning to get some of it down. I have managed to get the main twisted stem off, but the long whippy shoots appear to be budding, how I have no idea. I will have another go in a few days when my poor back and shoulders have recovered. Unfortunately the top of the pergola is just too high for me to reach, and after several falls, I dare not use steps.
We loved both these climbers, but in my new circumstances, I would be unable to prune and keep them at bay, such a shame, the Wisteria was truly beautiful, but in the wrong place.