How to Deadhead Double Knockout Roses

Double Knockout roses are hardy in zones 5 through 11.

Few pleasures take less effort than Double Knockout roses. Disease-resistant, drought-tolerant and soil indifferent, these full, double roses need little, if any, pruning. This rose bush grows virtually square, 3 to 4 feet in both directions, and produces classic roses nonstop from spring through the first frost. Gardeners need not deadhead these roses. The practice of clipping wilted flowers before they seed generally spurs rose production, but Double Knockout roses do not need the motivation. Whether you deadhead them or not, they produce one wave after another of brilliant blossoms all summer long.

Things You'll Need

• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Identify fading, damaged or broken blossoms on the Double Knockout rose bush. Notice whether all the roses in the cluster require clipping, or whether some remain attractive and healthy. Cut away each flower in turn, using sharp, clean pruners. If all flowers in the cluster are faded, trim the spent cluster.

2. Cut the stem of the Double Knockout rose at an angle, away from and slightly above a node. Seal the cut with white glue to impede boring mini-wasps, if these pests are a problem.

3. Cut lower down the stem if you prefer larger, more slowly formed roses. For quicker blooming, smaller blossoms, cut closer to the faded blossom.

4. Remove all clippings from the area. Decaying rose petals, especially with double roses like the Double Knockout, attract earwigs, sow and pill bugs and cucumber beetles. Burn the cuttings.

Tips & Warnings

• Double Knockout roses are self-cleaning; they drop dead flowers and replace them with new ones.

• Although Double Knockout roses do not require deadheading to speed rose production, deadheading also clear rose debris that can attract insects and improves air circulation.

References

• Rose Gardening Made Easy: Knock-Out Roses
• Rose Magazine: Deadheading Roses
• The Conard-Pyle Company: The Double Knock-Out Rose