How to Care for Double Knockout Rose Bush
The Double Knock Out rose bush, a hybrid shrub rose, produces fragrant, double flowers in shades of pink to cherry red that look like classic roses. Gardeners value the rose bush for its adaptability, resistance to pests and disease, ease of care and extended blooming period. The Double Knock Out rose bush thrives in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 5 through 9, which includes most of the United States, and blooms generously from spring through the first frost of the season. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Plant Double Knock Out roses during spring or summer, as long as the ground is not frozen. Choose a planting site that receives six to eight hours of full sunlight and has fertile, well-drained soil. Space Double Knock Out roses 4 feet apart.
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Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch over the soil surrounding each Double Knock Out rose bush to insulate the soil, conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Allow about 3 inches between the mulch and the crown of the plants to reduce the risk of disease.
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Water Double Knock Out roses once every five days during the first month of growth to help the plant become established. Reduce the frequency of watering thereafter to once each week. Decrease watering to once every two weeks during winter.
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Prune the rose bushes once per year during early spring just before new growth begins. Use pruning shears to remove dead, damaged and excessively long limbs to conserve nutrients and improve the appearance of the plants.
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Feed Double Knock Out roses once each year during spring and just after pruning to promote vigorous new growth. Use a balanced fertilizer formulated for rose bushes according the manufacturer's instructions for the best results.
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Tips & Warnings
Double Knock Out roses benefit from an organic mulch such as chopped leaves or shredded bark.
Wear gloves when handling Double Knock Out roses, as the sharp thorns on their stems can cause injury.
References
- The Conard-Pyle Company: How to Care for a Knock Out Rose
- The Conard-Pyle Company: The Double Knock Out Rose
- “Minnesota Gardener's Guide”; Melinda Myers; 2005
