Blooming and Fertilizing
Do Knock Out® Roses grow faster when you deadhead them or is it better to just leave them alone?
Knock Out® Roses will repeat-bloom from spring to frost regardless of deadheading. Deadheading does offer a cleaner, tidier look. Often people choose to deadhead to remove the faded blooms. Watch our deadheading video.
Do I need to deadhead my Knock Out® Roses?
All members in The Knock Out® Family of Roses are self-cleaning, so there is no need to deadhead.
How much sun do my Knock Out® Roses need?
All of The Knock Out® Family of Roses need 6-8 hours of full sun every day. The more sun there is, the more they will thrive and produce flowers.
How much, what type and when do I fertilize my Knock Out® Roses?
The Knock Out® Family of Roses will perform beautifully even without fertilizing. If you choose to give them an additional boost, it is very important not to fertilize until after the roses are established and go through one bloom cycle. Use a balanced fertilizer or fertilizer formulated for roses from your local garden center and apply after the first wave of flowering (be sure to follow the specified rates and method of application provided on the product label). Make sure the soil is moist before you fertilize to avoid burning the roots. Do not fertilize late in the summer as this is the time the rose should be preparing themselves for dormancy and you do not want to create additional unnecessary new growth that will likely die back from the first hard frost.
My Knock Out® Roses had beautiful flowers in the spring but now none are blooming. Why?
The first wave of flowers will be abundant. Then the roses will typically have scattered blooms until another wave of heavy flowering occurs. This will repeat until the first hard frost.
Planting
What type of soil do The Knock Out® Family of Roses prefer?
They prefer a balanced "neutral" soil, neither acidic nor alkaline. A desired pH level is between 5.5 and 6.5.
Can I transplant my roses?
Yes, it is okay to transplant your roses. The best time to transplant is late winter or early spring while the plant is still dormant and before new growth begins to push out.
Is it okay to plant Knock Out® Roses in containers?
Yes, it is fine to plant Knock Out® Roses in containers. If you decide to plant them in containers, transplant into a container 2 sizes larger than the size pot the plant was currently in to give it room to grow. Also, be sure to place the pot in a sunny location and keep them well watered. Depending on where you live, you'll probably need to bring them inside over the winter. Watch our planting video.
What is the ideal time of year to plant Knock Out® Roses?
You can plant Knock Out® Roses in the spring or the fall.
How close together can I plant my Knock Out® Roses?
All of the Knock Out® Roses should be planted on 3' centers. This allows room for them to grow and have good air circulation.
My Knock Out® Roses wilted after they were planted, will they bounce back?
Could be transplant shock. Make sure you give them a good, long drink of water. When a plant wilts, it is usually very thirsty.
Is it safe to plant in late winter/early spring?
We recommend you check your 10-day weather forecast, and if there is no threat of frost, then it should be safe to plant.
Pruning
I did not know to prune my Knock Out® roses in early spring. Is it too late?
If they were just planted this spring and have already begun to bloom, we would advise against cutting them back hard. Try deadheading instead. If they have been in the ground a few years and are well established, it's okay to trim, but don’t take off more than ⅓ of the growth. Save the hard ⅔ trim until late winter/early spring.
Is pruning Knock Out® Roses the same as other roses?
Check your rose bush from time to time in late winter/early spring, and when you start to see new shoots growing from the canes on your rose bush, that’s a good sign that it’s time to prune. Cut back your roses (using hedge shears) to about 12". This should make them grow to about 3–4' tall by the end of the season.
Pests and Diseases
My Knock Out® Roses are starting to get black spot.
In some very humid, black spot prone areas, you may see some black spot. Don't worry—while the plant may drop some leaves, it won't be detrimental to the overall health of the plant. Make sure when you water your roses, that you water at the base of the plant. Watering overhead (with a sprinkler or hose), leaves water on the foliage which is an invitation for fungal disease. Your Knock Out® Roses will be much happier if you water at the base of the plant. Also, they prefer a long drink of water every once in a while rather than frequent small watering.
What steps can be taken to treat powdery mildew?
Powdery mildew can be a common problem of roses, particularly when conditions are favorable in spring and fall. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that appears as a soft white coating on stems, leaves, and buds of rose bushes. It commonly occurs when there are many overcast days with high humidity and mild temperatures. Generally speaking, powdery mildew becomes less of a problem after the arrival of summer which typically brings with it long, hot, sunny days. The mildew problem will go away with improved weather conditions. There are a few options for correcting the problem.
An application of horticultural oil should smother the spores and reduce spread of the problem. It is best to try this as soon as possible upon visible symptoms. An early sign of powdery mildew is a slight curling upwards of the foliage.
You could try trimming back the worst affected areas and wait for new, clean growth to flush out.
Voles are eating the roots of My Knock Out® Roses. What can I do?
Traps and poisons are the two most successful methods of controlling voles. If you want to try the organic route, there is a product called Shake-Away Rodent Repellent which uses the scent of fox urine to discourage voles from burrowing into the soil beneath your roses. The product is in a powder form that can be sprinkled around the roses you wish to protect.
Japanese Beetles are attacking my Knock Out® Roses.
Pick each Beetle off and drop them into a bucket filled with warm soapy water. Putting a bird feeder nearby may also help. Japanese Beetles won't be detrimental to the overall health of the plant so if you can stand them, it's fine to leave them alone too. You may want to try a product like Milky Spores to control them—we recommend just pulling them off one by one though (not fun but effective).
There are holes in the leaves of my Knock Out® Rose and I don’t see any beetles or other bugs. Any tips?
The leaf damage you are seeing could be from what's called rose slug (also called sawfly). Look on the underside of the leaves. Do you see any tiny green inchworm looking critters? Rose slugs will chew the leaves of plants—leaving trails where they've munched through, but they won't be detrimental to the overall health of your Knock Out® Roses.
Do we need to protect our Knock Out® Roses from being eaten by insects?
Knock Out® Roses are not pest-resistant, but they are extremely tough so even if bugs get after them, they should be fine. You can use a spray product formulated for roses if the bugs are particularly bad in your area. The best way to remove Japanese Beetles is by hand though—pick them off one by one and put them in a container of warm soapy water. Placing a bird feeder nearby can also be effective!
The deer have eaten most of the blooms on my Knock Out® Roses. Will they bloom again or are they a total loss?
Knock Out® Roses are not deer resistant and unfortunately, as you probably know, when deer are hungry, they’ll munch on anything. Don't worry though, Knock Out® Roses are really tough. They bloom repeatedly throughout the season, so hopefully when it's time for them to bloom again, you will see more flowers. You may want to try a product like Liquid Fence to keep the deer away.
Winterizing
If I live in an area with a harsh winter, what should I do to protect my Knock Out® Roses?
If you live in a harsh winter climate, add 2–3" of mulch, leaves, or pine/fir boughs around the base of the plant. You may also want to wrap the plant with burlap. A heavy snow cover will also help insulate and protect the plant through the winter. In spring, remove any extra mulch that may be covering the plant too deeply and trim out any dead or broken canes, also remove any burlap that you may have used to wrap the plant.
It’s getting cold outside...what do I do with my roses that are planted in containers?
Don't panic! Leave the containers outside through the first few frosts then bring them inside and store in a cool, dark area such as your basement or garage. If you store your containers in the garage, remember to protect them from the winter temperatures that can come in as you open and close the door. Store your containers inside until the threat of the last frost has passed (typically in early spring). You'll want to check your roses periodically to make sure they don't dry out completely.
What about the Knock Out® tree roses?
Tree roses will need even more protection. In areas where the temperatures fall below 10º F in winter, tree roses should be wrapped with insulating material to protect them from the cold and wind. In the colder areas where the temperatures fall below zero, the only adequate protection for tree roses is to lift them in late fall before very severe freezing weather and bury them in a trench covering them completely with a foot or more of earth.
General
How big will my Knock Out® Roses get?
Knock Out® Roses can grow fairly large in some parts of the country if not cut back. Periodic trims will keep them maintained at a smaller size (on average 3–4' wide x 3–4' tall). A once a year cut (to about 12–18" above the ground) in late winter/early spring is also recommended for maximum performance.
Does a Knock Out® Rose smell like a typical rose?
There are only two fragrant Knock Out Roses®—Sunny Knock Out® and White Knock Out®.
I have a Knock Out® Rose that has two different colored blooms. What's going on?
This sometimes happens when a variety is a mutation of another variety. Sometimes it wants to revert back to the original. It will happen randomly and not always, so enjoy the bloom while it lasts.
Does the Knock Out® Rose produce rose hips?
All of The Knock Out® Roses will produce hips sparingly.
Are there any climbing Knock Out® Roses?
Unfortunately, there is not a climbing Knock Out® Rose. We are always working with breeders and hybridizers to develop new Knock Out® Roses. You may want to try Morning Magic™, Winner's Circle™ or Brite Eyes™. All were bred by Will Radler who created the Knock Out® Rose. They are hardy to zone 5 and all are repeat bloomers with above-average disease resistance.
What colors or color combos are being worked on for the Knock Out® Rose?
We are always working with breeders and hybridizers to develop Knock Out® Family worthy introductions, in all colors, forms and habits.
The leaves on my plant are turning yellow. Is there anything I can do?
Did you get excessive/abnormal heat in your area? Sometimes a rose bush will turn yellow and drop its foliage in an effort to cool down. It may also be turning yellow because of too much water or fertilizing. The actual frequency of watering will depend on your soil and climate as well as the age of the plant. Try watering a few mornings a week—water slowly at the base of the plant, until the soil is wet 12 to 18" deep. Soaker hoses are helpful and prevent water from splashing onto foliage. You can also trim back the yellow leaves for a cleaner look.
Petite Knock Out® Rose
How do you plant Petite Knock Out®?
Planting steps for Petite Knock Out® are the same as any other Knock Out® Rose. View our planting instructions and video.
Can Petite Knock Out® be grown in a container?
Yes! Petite is perfect for planting in decorative containers on your porch or patio, as well as for planting in mass in the garden. View our container planting instructions and video.
What type of care does Petite Knock Out® require?
Petite requires the same care as other Knock Out® Roses. View our planting, pruning, fertilizing and winter care steps, as well as helpful video tutorials.
How big does Petite Knock Out® get?
Petite is the first-ever, miniature Knock Out® Rose. It will grow to be about 18” tall by 18” wide.
Is Petite Knock Out® as hardy and disease resistant as other Knock Out® Roses?
Yes! Petite offers the same hardiness, disease resistance and flowering ability as other Knock Out® Roses, just in a smaller size!
What zones does Petite Knock Out® perform best in?
Petite does best in zones 4–10.
