The Care of Knock Out Shrub Roses
Knock Out rose is disease- and pest-resistant, hardy and extremely beautiful. This is a favorite for beginning rose gardeners, due to its hardiness and rewarding blooms. Does this Spark an idea?
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Location and Warmth
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Knock Out rose does best in full, bright sunshine all day, with complete drainage at its roots. Keep the rose in six to eight hours of sun to maintain thriving growth and bright blooms from early spring to the first frost. Because the knock out rose is hardier than some of its fellow roses, it grows in almost any area of the country.
Soil
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Knock Out roses require a quick-draining, loose foundation with no standing water. They should never stand in a low-lying area that gets puddling, and do best when planted in soil generously amended with quick-draining potting soil, rich organic compost and mulch. These roses also enjoy bone meal, blood meal and fish emulsion in their soil.
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Water and Feeding
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Water Knock Out roses with 3 to 4 inches of water a week, especially during the warm, dry season. Feed them with rose-specific or nitrogen-heavy fertilizer once a month, or use organic fertilizer or composts like fish emulsion to keep the flowers blooming all summer.
Pruning
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Although Knock Out roses don't require much winter protection, they do require winter pruning in February or early March, to encourage summer blooms. During winter pruning, cut the rose canes back to 4 to 6 inches and cut off any canes that grow through the bushes or against other canes. Remove any dead or damaged wood to maintain the knock out rose's shape and health.
Features
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When grown successfully, a Knock Out rose achieves a neat, compact bush shape, and doesn't get any bigger than 3 to 4 feet in height and spread. Blooms are 3 inches in diameter, and range from bright pink to cherry red.
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References
- Photo Credit Rose rose image by focusart.fr from Fotolia.com
