To prune or not to prune - that is the question

We have an old, deep red climbing rose, about 15 years old, which has been trained horizontally to the dwarf wall of our west facing patio. Each year it has given an all summer display on the vertical new growth.

However it is old and the main root looked fungus like, so concern grew on its health (so far looking good this year). Time for propagation, as we don’t know its name. I know it is probably grafted, but there is no sign of a graft and it is wonderfully black spot free and very healthy. In January this year I thought that I would take some slips to maintain the “bloodline”

Success! On our sunny patio, I now have five, well rooted slips safely transferred to Fryer’s roses type, deep rose containers to grow on in a light, well drained, soil /peat compost mix, fortified with Richard Jackson’s “Root Booster”. Also two growing in our garden soil in a sunny location with plenty of space to thrive.

Now comes the question - unanswered anywhere on the Internet - as far as I can see. When/How should I prune these slips so as to achieve four of five good, strong leaders by the end of next year’s growing season - ready for moving to their permanent quarters?

 

I'd say prune hard to the lowest buds late winter.

Maybe @wiseowl can help you out , he likes his roses

 

Yes, thanks for the reply - I wonder if @wiseowl can comment.

 

Thank you @wiseowl - I had detected your school of thought on the Internet and was certainly thinking of leaving the young roses, which have the start of a good lateral shape, to their own devices next year, perhaps for two. When should I move these from their pots to to their final destination, I wonder?

One or two of the young roses have sprouted rather weak growth from below the soil level. I was thinking of leaving them to see if they had reverted to a non climbing form as some people say can happen.

As I will only be able to use one, perhaps two, of the roses for myself, I may be more adventurous on the other roses and see if second year hard pruning gives a better prognosis.

Thanks for all inputs - gladly received!