The Do’s and Dont's of Decorating
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Companion plants may be beneficial for helping deter pests or for making your feature plant stand out. In the case of Knock Out roses, many plants pair well. Although Knock Out roses are Earth-Kind roses (which means they’re some of the toughest roses on the market), they can still benefit from a garden full of predatory insects.
Alliums such as chives and garlic repel aphids. If you plant these around the base of the Knock Out rose bush, they’re likely to turn away from that base. This doesn’t help much though if an infested plant nearby has leaves or branches touching your rose bush.
Dill, fennel, parsley, cosmos, basil, alyssum, yarrow and lovage all attract beneficial, predatory insects that will feast on any bugs terrorizing your Knock Out rose. For a double benefit, plant lavender or white-blooming crape myrtles behind the Knock Out rose bushes. The blooms will complement each other, and crape myrtles are fantastic at attracting and sheltering beneficial insects.
Indigo Spires salvia, Salvia leucantha, Blue Spires Russian sage and most varieties of lavender have purple or blue flower spikes that pair well with the round shape, full texture and pink blooms of Knock Out roses. Some of these plants are quite tall, so stagger them in front of your Knock Out roses so that you don’t hide your rose bush.
Mexican feather grass, liriopes, miscanthus grass and even irises (planted on a lower slope so as not to drown your rose with frequent watering) have fine textures and vertical lines, which contrast the round fullness of Knock Out roses quite well. Pay attention to height, and plant larger species (such as the miscanthus grass) staggered behind the rose bush.
Artemisia, silvery-leafed lavenders, sage, silvery cineraria or even silver elaeagnus make Knock Out roses stand out. The pallor in the foliage nearby makes the dark green leaves of your rose bush seem a deeper green, and the bright pink roses truly stand out.
If there is a fence or wall behind your Knock Out roses, consider planting vines that bloom yellow or white. The sea of color behind the ever-blooming Knock Out rose bush will likely be more attractive and make your rose bush stand out better than the fence or wall the vine is covering.
Plants or Shrubs to Plant With Knock Out Roses
What Should Be Planted With Knock Out Roses?
The Best Companion Plants for Roses
Knock Out Rose Planting Instructions
The Best Time to Plant Knock Out Roses
How to Plant & Care for Knock Out Roses
How to Plant Knock Out Rose Bushes
Companion Planting for Knock Out Roses
