I planted an established Joseph's Coat rose a couple of months ago and it has more than doubled in height since I put it in the ground. I'm at the point of needing a trellis, but before I get one I have a question about training it to grow along a chain link fence that sits about 18 or so inches behind the bush. Is that too far from the plant to use as a trellis? Will bending the canes backward toward the fence do any significant damage, or should I just buy a regular lateral trellis and stake it right behind the plant?
Also, this specimen has been quite a prolific bloomer since I planted it and pruning has encouraged multiple buds, but to me the blooms seem small -- they're no more than about three or four inches in diameter. Is that normal for a Joseph's Coat? Are there any particular strategies or feeding products I can use to encourage larger blooms?
Thanks in advance for any information.
Rhonda Alexandria, VA, USA Zone 7
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