Hello,
I just have two questions on my rose.

1. Please see the picture with the long thick cane circled. This is a climbing rose. The cane is not growing vertical and off to the side. Would it be ok for me to prune this? Or would it hurt the plant? I want to encourage growth vertically closer to the trellis. Thoughts?

2. Is it ok to use liquid fertilizer on new rose plants before the full year mark? I have a fish emulsion fertilizer and thinking of using that. To give some context that is what Heirloom Roses said on one of their videos. They advised to use only liquid fertilizer first year of planting.

1. You CAN cut that cane but you will be removing what appears to be about half that plant and that will result in it being set back until it replaces the removed foliage. All green parts photosynthesize food, so they feed the whole. Is it possible to draw that cane in closer to the trellis and secure it in place so you retain the foliage? If not, cut it off to a bud facing where you want the growth to be.

2. As long as the plant is growing and appropriately watered before feeding, using fertilizer according to the package instructions is fine. Heirloom promotes what they want to promote for whatever reasons they have. I can't explain to you why. As long as it is accomplished properly, it is safe to use any fertilizer you desire using, even if the plant is less than a year in the ground. But, you have a warranty you paid dearly for, so follow their instructions.

Have you tried tying the errant cane to the trellis to train it to grow more vertically?

Thanks @roseseek and @porkpal

I've definitely attempted to bring the cane back in but it will not budge at all. I basically start tilting the entire plant over.

As far as pruning it to the direction I want it to go towards, how would this work when I want the cane to just grow up vertically? The buds are all facing all four directions except up so not sure how I would do it. Unless I just start training/tying the new cane on the trellis when it grows.

If you prune it, prune it above the bud which points in the direction you want the growth to occur. You can select whichever is closest to the trellis if you want to make it easier to train. The only vertical growth will occur at the top of a growing cane. When you prune above a bud, it begins growing in the direction the bud points. That growth eventually beings heading vertically. So, prune above the one which points in the direction of the trellis, as close to the trellis as possible and you should have the easiest time training it.

roseseek said: If you prune it, prune it above the bud which points in the direction you want the growth to occur. You can select whichever is closest to the trellis if you want to make it easier to train. The only vertical growth will occur at the top of a growing cane. When you prune above a bud, it begins growing in the direction the bud points. That growth eventually beings heading vertically. So, prune above the one which points in the direction of the trellis, as close to the trellis as possible and you should have the easiest time training it.

This is a silly question but could a bud also be considered one of the spikes sticking out? You're saying bud but that's one of the rose flowers it sounds like.

Your confusion is understandable. Take a look at the last two photos in this article. They show the difference between a growth node and a flower bud. You'll want to prune above a growth node pointing inward.

https://garden.org/ideas/view/...

Thank you @zuzu
Very helpful as per usual.

Also what a fantastic article! Thank you. 😄👋