Combining Roses & Agriframes Traditional Metal Structures: Modern Ways to Train Classic Climbers

Roses have  been central to garden designs for centuries, but the way we grow them is changing. Today’s gardens favour structure with year-round interest and classic climbers are increasingly being trained on metalwork that feels architectural as well as decorative.

Used and designed well, structures don’t compete with roses - they enhance them by helping to shape growth, improve flowering and create highlights in the garden that feel both traditional and contemporary. At Agriframes, we see our robust steel structures not as an accessory, but as an essential element in growing healthy beautiful roses which can become stunning highlights in your garden.

Why Agriframes structures work so well with roses

Climbing and rambling roses are naturally vigorous plants. Left without support they can quickly become tangled, top-heavy or flower unevenly. Strong, well-designed metalwork allows you to train growth exactly where you want it.

Agriframes structures offer practical advantages:

• They provide strength and longevity for mature plants
• Open frameworks encourage good airflow and healthier growth
• Stems can be tied in horizontally, improving flowering
• Structure remains in place and attractive year-round - even when the plants are dormant

Just as importantly, well chosen structures bring shape and definition to the garden long before roses come into leaf.

Training roses over a Round Arch

A Round Arch creates one of the most evocative ways to use climbing roses - the curved form soon becomes swathed in fragrant flowers while encouraging the plant to bloom beautifully and evenly across the structure.

By gently guiding stems along the curve rather than allowing them to shoot straight upwards you can achieve better flower coverage from top to bottom. The result is generous and welcoming - particularly effective when used to frame a gate, path or to create the traditional ‘roses round the door’ effect in the garden.

The clean lines of a metal arch provide contrast to the softness of rose growth, keeping the effect elegant rather than overblown.

Using obelisks for control and height

The classic obelisk remains one of the most versatile ways to support roses, particularly in borders and mixed planting schemes. Compact climbing or shrub roses can be trained up an obelisk to add height without overwhelming surrounding plants.

Obelisks work especially well where space is limited or where structure is needed within a border allowing roses to be grown as vertical accents, creating interest and repetition across the garden.

As the rose matures, the framework gradually disappears beneath foliage and flower, leaving a sense of form without detracting from the surrounding planting.

Screens as rose supports

Agriframes screens offer a contemporary way to train roses, particularly against walls, fences or as freestanding dividers within the garden. Their grid-like structure makes tying in stems straightforward and allows growth to be spread evenly.

Screens are ideal for:

• Training climbers flat for maximum flowering
• Creating privacy without solid barriers
• Adding vertical interest where space is tight

Used with roses, they create living walls that change through the seasons while maintaining structure and order all year.

A Round Pergola as a focal point

For a truly spectacular centrepiece, few structures rival a round pergola. Roses trained over and around a circular framework create a space that feels enclosed, generous and atmospheric.

Unlike more angular pergolas, the round form encourages even growth and balanced coverage - Roses can be trained horizontally around the structure, promoting flowering along the full length of each stem.

The result is not just a support for plants, but a ‘room’ within the garden - somewhere to sit, pause and enjoy the scent and colour at close range.

A modern approach to a classic pairing

Combining roses with an Agriframes metal structure is not just about nostalgia but also allowing roses to thrive and perform at their best while bringing year-round shape to the garden.

Whether you’re training climbers over an arch, introducing height with an obelisk, using screens for structure or creating a statement with a round pergola, Agriframes metal structures give classic roses a modern framework - one that looks good in every season and improves with time and can be enjoyed for generations

Either left bare as an architectural feature or swathed in climbers for a softer look with colour all year round.