How to Work With Knock Out Roses

Overview

Knock Out roses are hybrid bush roses that have been developed to resist black spot and grow well in a variety of climatic conditions. They grow to a 3-foot-by-3-foot bush that tolerates drought and survives winters that many other roses would not. Growing Knock Out roses is relatively easy and they make good first rose bushes for novices.

Step 1

Plant your Knock Out rose bush in the spring after all chance of frost has passed. Find a location that receives at least seven hours of direct sunlight per day and is sheltered from prevailing winds. Dig a hole at least twice as wide and deep as the rootball of the rose and dig in compost or aged manure to give the soil extra fertility if needed.

Step 2

Check the leaves occasionally for powdery mildew or other leaf diseases, but these should be rare. If you find disease, consult with your local extension agent on treatment options. Knock Outs do not need to be dead-headed to continue blooming. They need little in the way of ongoing maintenance except for regular watering.

Step 3

Prune back the bushes in the early spring to 1/2 their current height with hedge trimmers. This will encourage vigorous new growth and heavy flowering. Prune out any dead canes, but other regular pruning is unnecessary.

Step 4

Wrap the bushes in burlap and tie with twine to protect from freezing winds and the weight of the snow. In more temperate areas of the country, the bushes need no extra winter protection.