5 Steps to Successfully Growing KNOCK OUT® Roses
KNOCK OUT® roses have been popular since they first were introduced by William Radler in 2000. They were an All American Award winner in their very first year. These roses are noted for being super hardy, in both heat and cold. They are the most care-free rose in existence and are extremely pest and disease resistant.
Because this type of rose is so low-maintenance, there is not a lot you need to do to keep them on track and blooming from spring to the first heavy frost of fall. If you are just starting out with KNOCK OUT® roses, there are five steps you can take to assure their success:
1) Select a good location
Most roses need a lot of sun and that makes them a challenge for gardeners who happen to have yards which are shady for part of the day. KNOCK OUT® roses are not as fussy as other roses. They will thrive in yards which are partial shade and partial sun. When you plant these shrub roses, select a spot where they will get at least an average of four hours of sun per day.
2) Prepare the soil
Well-drained soil is the key to growing roses. Begin preparing your soil by adding lots of compost and other organic matter. Dried manures can work well but don’t add green manure as it can damage the roots of the roses. There are special organic rose fertilizers that you can add when you plant and if you wish to fertilize every few weeks during the growing season. KNOCK OUT® rpses do not need a lot of extra fertilizer as long as you prepare the soil well in the spring.
3) Water them well
When you first plant your KNOCK OUT® roses, it is a good idea to water them thoroughly. Keep them well-watered until they start getting new growth. After that they should not need extra hand-watering unless you live in an extremely dry location. With roses, it is always better err on the side of moist (not wet) than dry.
4) Mulch your KNOCK OUT® roses
Mulching your roses will help them flourish both in the summer blooming season and when they are dormant in the winter. Mulch holds in the moisture so that the soil doesn’t dry out. It can also protect your roses from some pests and diseases. One of the advantages of KNOCK OUT® roses are their ability to withstand cold winter temperatures (-25 to -29) but the best thing you can do is mulch them heavily over the winter if you live in a cold, snowy location.
5) Prune once a year
Pruning is the one aspect of rose care that most people dislike. In fact, some beginner rose gardeners get very nervous about their first pruning. If you grow these roses, you don’t have to worry too much about pruning them. This is one of the KNOCK OUT® easy-care features. And all you have to do is cut them back to a foot to a foot-and-a-half before they start growing in the spring. You can even prune in the late fall if you like, but many people like to keep the color of their rose hips as long as possible.
KNOCK OUT® roses do not need a lot of attention to give you some brilliant, long-blooming roses. If you get them started right with proper attention to location, soil, water, mulch and pruning, you will be pleased with the results.