I love climbers, so if that was in my garden I would get it something to climb on - maybe a pretty structure of some sort. Then I would tie the canes around it as horizontally as possible, so that it would bloom more.

Jackie

Thanks Jackie,

There is a black 8' trellis in back (overwhelmed by O&L) and I did stretch the longest canes horizontally as you recommend. I thought that would work too but the laterals that grew from these canes were very long and bloomed very little. That is why I wanted to try a hard prune to see how it would re-bloom.

I was hoping someone had tried a hard prune and could post pics.

Lee

Mine likes to stay about 4-5ft tall. I didn't prune it much last season and it seemed to bloom better. I also noticed the blooms were a little bigger. Maybe it was just a fluke this yr. I dunno.

{{gwi:329622}}

I have mine on a trellis. It was originally in a pot, but the root grew through the bottom into the ground. She REALLY wanted to live in the dirt!

I usually prune in late late winter and I'm not shy about cutting her back; she can take it. I try to keep her upright for maximum blooming.

Good luck with yours!