How to Grow Knock Out Roses

Just planted a knock out rose tree for the first time. Some bug is eating it alive. Also it have white spots all over the leaves. Using a organic spray on it but it is starting to look like a plucked chicken. It has some new growth at the bottom but as of today it is very ugly. What can I do? I watered every evening when I first planted, do I need to stop watering everyday? I live in the Knoxville, TN area.

It amazes me that ease and carefree is more important than beauty when it comes to flowers. People used to grow roses because they were the most beautiful flowers in the world. To me, knockout roses are just one step above sticking plastic flowers in your yard.

I feel that knockout roses are an answer to a person wanting roses for sentimental reasons but does not have the soil to grow the type great grands did. I have tried to grow old fashioned roses as my father. I have been told that due to my location of my yard to try knockouts. So let’s not be a snob about this lovely answer to growing roses. It is also great for a beginner. I was feeling that Mr. Mintz could have been a little kinder in his comment. Good for him and his roses.

We are having the same problem Phyllis. Last summer, we planted several knockouts in a fairly shady area, and this spring, they are awful. Few flowers, most leaves are dying – some have holes. The plants keep trying to put out new growth but it seems a losing battle. Then, we bought some more healthy looking plants with the idea to plant in sunny locations, but set them in shade while we were out of town for 2 weeks to protect them from a week of 90 degree, dry weather. When we got back, they looked the same as the other plants described above. Any ideas/suggestions?

I planted 3 last year. They are in good soil, bloom profusely, morning to early afternoon sun. Only problem is that they have sprawled everywhere and are huge! I didn’t know until I read on here that I could prune in the spring. Also just planted 2 more double pink ones. Will have to try and shape them come next spring. Other than that, they are lovely, but like any other rose, must be routinely sprayed for pests.

I have six red double knock outs, they are 3 years old, this year one is dying, one stem at a time, same watering for all same sun, 5 are great. The one stem at at time I don’t understand. help

when is the best time to plant knock out roses?

A little late to respond to Larry, but Bayer makes a liquid systemic insecticide/antifungal for roses that rescued our knockouts this summer when they looked like they were about to die – same thing, losing parts of the plants progressively. We have also used the same Bayer product on our ornamental cherry trees that were heavily infested with apparent fungus and they too bounced right back. Only problem is that this is definitely not an organic product. It needs to be handled carefully with concern for environmental contamination. Good luck.

I love knockout roses and I have 7 of them in my yard. I have a problem though, when they bloomed this spring it only lasted very short time. My neighbor’s is still blooming and all those that I see in the area are still blooming with tons of flowers. Why are mine not blooming?Please help.

just plant some knockout roses water every day now for a week and lees is turning yellow am i watering them to much need help.

My knock-out roses have new growth from the bottom. Should I cut down the old existing stalks?

I have knock off roses that have always been red.. However this spring they bloomed pink, and now the flowers that are coming out are deformed. Can you give me some idea what’s going on and what I should do to fix the problem.

I have 3 knockout roses and they bloom profusely, then it seems insects gets to the bloom and it falls apart within a few hours. Today, the blooms were falling apart and there was sign of pests. What gives? What does one use to keep the pest from ruining the blooms?

Lorene

Planted 6 knock out roses in a flower bed in my back yard that has white small rocks covering bed. Roses bloomed when I first got them but not blooming now. I gave them some chicken manure is that a good idea?

While my wife and I are struggling to keep our backyard alive and somewhat attractive in August our Knock Out Roses are smiling with beautiful blooms! We have them around the pool area and our deck/pergola flower beds. Combined with the Lady Banks covering a large arbor the comments from friends keep coming! I see many more Knocks Outs in our landscape because the old fashion roses just don’t cut it – for the amount of maintenance needed with not much reward from our old roses especially in Texas summer heat.

Container pink knock out rose, can it be planted in the ground in Oct. in Mobile, Al.?

When is the best time to plant Knock Out Roses in Myrtle Beach SC? Thank you…

I have one that shows as if it has died. How do I know for sure?

We live in Dallas, TX. Our 7 very healthy knockout rose bushes died because of Rosetta virus last year (2014). Is it safe to plant knockouts this year or should we plant something else?

To the guy in Mobile,
Knockouts would be better off planted in the fall as most things would. You can plant now as well but make sure you give anything planted now adequate water as its already mid/late spring along the gulf coast, when it reaches 90 they need water. Also get some composted manure if planting, the respond insanely well to horse manure.

Mishut,
I am not a rose expert but if I were you I would find one knock out on sale for $10 and a smaller one at that and give it a try. If it does well throughout the Texas summer and into fall, I would plant more in the fall. Nearly everything is better to plant in the fall in the deep south because not only does it give the roots a chance to take before the heat, the prices are usually better in the fall and there are few crowds.

Also want to point out I find that these roses take a liking to a thin layer of mulch, I use cedar and pine straw better than most roses, I think its because they are a little more disease resistant. But after the initial mulch there isn’t a need because they tend to take over and are a true shrub. Hope that helps yall some.

Alan,

I would rather my neighbors plant knock outs than let old heirloom roses become disease infested and gangly. They are also great for areas where you don’t want to do much maintenance and hide eye sores pretty darn well in the landscape like old sheds, trailers, etc. They definitely have a place in an advanced landscape design.

My Knockout roses are really brown & they look like they are dead, they look awful. should i go ahead & cut them all down? are is there any thing i can do to save them.

We thought we were saving a Knock out rose bush that was thrown out. We repotted it in a large black plastic pot last fall. The bush is healthy and huge but it has never flowered. My husband wants to throw it out now. What’s wrong with it? ( it is growing in full sun) We live in Louisiana.

Read all these folks problems. Don’t see where you gave them ONE answer….

I planted 2 knockout roses last year. One is done great, the other one is not growing as fast and has stopped blooming. It is under a pine tree. The other is not. I have fertilized them. The one under the pine tree bloomed at the beginning of spring and now is not. Help?.

A strange summer — I decided to see how tall they would grow — so far, over 12 feet. I am AMAZED. Just amazed.

Landscaper took out all day lilies that ran the length of the back fence and planted double knock out roses (that work wasn’t cheap) the third week in June of this year. It is August 3 and it looks like the newly planted roses are on their last leg. No new buds, flowers are wilted, some leaves are brown. I also have single knockout roses I planted two years ago near the shed. They are blooming like crazy, they spread out and look great. I treat both types of roses the same. What is happening with my double knock outs. When I water, I water at the base of the plant usually several times a week in this hot weather and do it at night. I don’t see bugs on them. Have no idea what is wrong.

When is the best time to plant double knock roses?

Can you take a clipping from a Knock Out rosebush and start another plant?
Thanks in advance for any info.

This info is for persons having problems with growing knockout roses.

If the leaves are speckled or turning brown simply cut the plant back to 24 to 30 inches in height. Apply fertilizer. I use Miracle Grow with hose end applicator.

Do not water plants in late afternoon or early evening. Leaves should be dry before nightfall.

Roses need 6 to 8 hrs. full sun daily.

Don’t fuss over them They grow better without too much attention. They like neglect better than attention!

Follow up with second fertilizer application in about 4 weeks..

Stand back and enjoy!!!

Info for any one having problems with roses or other blooming plants:

The vigor of your plants are totally dependent on the bed preparation.

I use my Mantis tiller to turn the bed about 3 to 4 feet deep.

Till in about 12 inches deep of sand. Next till in peat. Then till in a good layer of organic fertilizer. I use cow manure that has “laid” at least one year. Sprinkle with “Preen” and turn with shovel. Depth of bed should be 3 to 4 feet deep.

This takes time and effort but it will ensure beautiful, healthy shrubs and abundantly flowering specimens. Don’t crowd your beds. Allow enough space for future growth and multiplication due to natural seeding.

I watered my knockouts everyday and they did great!

Anyone had success with Rose rosette disease. I’m here in dallas Texas and I hear this disease is epidemic. I have the miniature knockouts and this disease knocked them out in a couple if weeks. right now I am following Howard Garrett’s protocol with peroxide and his garrett juice. any success stories would be appreciated.

Oh, Mr. Mintz, if every flower in the world were the same, what a boring place a garden would be. Even the lowly dandelion has something of beauty to contribute to the world. Perhaps all it takes is opening one’s eyes to the beauty that is everywhere around one.

Deciding that only one flower is worthy of one’s attention is a sad way to live. I love my garden full of irises and clematis and daffodils and foxgloves and carnations and johnny jump-ups and, yes, knockout roses. It’s bright and fun and pretty. I have no plastic flowers, but I do have a couple of quirky metal flamingos and even a silly little gnome.

Gardens are for enjoying. Not for snobbery.

i dont know if you can tell me but ive been trying to fine out the name of a rose its yellow with red inside of it hope you can help me because a lady had one but she dident know it’s thankyou

To all – I have probably 40 plus knockouts and I love them. They are prolific and i have enjoyed them – transplanted them with success and so on. I always use the bayer 3 way. But I have worried about the issue of Rosey Rosette Disease since I read about it in 2013….Each year I examine my bushes and I’ve seen what appears to possibly be it but I have just held my breath. One person asked about it but I have as yet heard anyone else say anything and a local nursery acted like I was crazy. Sadly sadly, this may well be the Elm disease of the knock outs. It has been around from around 1940 but the popularity of the knock outs has likely increased the number of diseased plants as well as increased the spread as they can travel downwind. The signs include several things that can be just simple growth but if you see thick stems developing – very thorny – very red /purply red – and the buds look a bit “witchy”, it may be in your plants. There is no treatment and there is no preventative. It is just a destroyer and it doesn’t happen overnight. I have had a lot of poorly developed flowers this spring but we had a very early early spring and then a snap so it may be the cold got a lot of initial buds but I am thinking there is a chance that is part of this. I don’t want to kill anyone’s joy of these. I knew that I would likely see it in my plants back in 2013/I felt there were some signs in my new bushes. But the only thing is to rip them out and destroy them. Do not recycle. They are not carried via the ground so I think you can replant but I doubt you want to plant knock outs. I continued to plant knock outs because they are hardy and they grow quickly and bloom for months and months and months. Here in SC easily April through December. But you need to know that they are possibly numbered in their days . If I lose mine, I lose a wonderful hedge of sorts plus a delightful array of blooms that delight my neighbors. (and cut down on football games next door and parents who do not explain to kids that you play ball in the park) . But being forewarned will help some. I have a good deal of money invested in mine . I bought the large pots and so will lose 20 plus dollars per plant as well as the expensive Bayer products that they require every six weeks. Losing the plants is sad enough – and thinking what I can replace them with that are pretty and grow quickly and don’t go bare in the winter (here, they keep the leaves through the winter). Hope they find a cure. since it has been around since 1940, I think we’re not looking at one coming anytime soon. And the nurseries will NOT tell you about it. I have as yet found anyone who will admit it but it is on the internet from respectable sources. And if it’s on the internet, it’s always true 🙂

I started a garden in my front yard for knock-out roses. . . twice. And each time the flowers just do not survive. Is it possible that the garden may be in an area that doesn’t drain very well after a rain? The first batch I blamed on a very cold winter and lost all 9 plants. Now I replanted another 9 plants and only 2 didn’t survive this last winter. Now a couple more have died. Am I able to add additional top soil, compost, and mulch to amend that garden bed? Could it be that the plants don’t like moist soil after a rain? Soil is rather dry between rains

I found Neem oil last year and sprayed my roses weekly. Seems to keep bugs off them. It does not stop black spot on tea roses though.

I have two cement planters I was wondering if I can plant roses in them they will be in the ground don’t know if it’s good drainage

I’m thinking about planting a Knock Out rose in front of a short trellis (52″ high x 48″ wide). I’ve ruled out “climbers” because they get too tall. Is this a practical choice?

Un-pruned knock out roses can get over 6′ tall.

Close to Atlanta, I had two knock outs in a partially sunny place at the rear of a large yard. Without pruning, they grew to huge, flowery balls at least 8′ in diameter. Had to spray for Japanese beetles, but otherwise, no insect or disease problems. After several years, they became leggy, so I cut them back to about 18″. Cut them at the coldest part of the winter. They are not dead now, but did not come back at all. I’m about to replace them. I assumed that I cut them back too early, but maybe they contracted the rose rosette disease being complained about. What new growth there is was red in color.