Newly planted Compassion climber - ok to start tying in?

Hello everyone,

Compassion Is my first climbing rose, against a west facing fence. I've attached a photo. It was just planted yesterday and seems raring to go.

I've been reading that you normally leave a climber a year before starting to train it.

However, somewhere on this forum I saw a comment saying someone found Compassion quite hard to train as it had such tough canes - I was pushing the canes back against the fence today as a trial and they really didn't want to be bent! I'm wondering if I leave the canes for a year, will they be so inflexible that won't be able to train them where I want?

What do you think? Will it be ok to start gently encouraging it now? Eg using soft stretchy cloth ties.

Or should I leave well alone - what are the risks in training too soon?

Opinions and any experience gratefully received!

 

There does not look much to train there, think if you give it a month or two, or if its slow to put on top growth wait until next spring, then when it really starts growing the canes should be much softer and more pliable.

 

I have compassion trained around a pillar. As you get new shoots longer than a foot or so gently bend them downwards while they are still soft - don't overdo it! the more horizontal they are the more you will get side branches and flowers. Mine was given to me by a friend as a rooted cutting. Lovely colour and scent.

 

I think it's OK for the moment but when it grows new canes then tie them where you want while they are still flexible.