Frequently Asked Questions

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.

There is no need to deadhead your Knock Out® Roses. They are self cleaning so the spent blooms will fall off on their own and within 5-6 weeks, you will have a new flush of flowers.  If you prefer a tidier look, you can prune away the spent flowers.
Watch this video to learn how to deadhead.

It would be best to avoid salty irrigation water. It may affect the amount of nutrients the plant will be able to absorb from the existing soil, resulting in a very weakened plant.

You can plant Knock Out® Roses in containers. Be sure to keep them well watered. Depending on where you live, you’ll probably need to bring them inside over the winter.

After this bloom cycle is finished, give the plant a light trim (by cutting off a few inches from all over the plant). This will remove the hips and get the plant ready for another bloom cycle in 5 or so weeks. Typically, you'll want to prune in the spring, which would have removed all the hips. 

Knock Out® Roses will re-bloom every 5-6 weeks regardless of deadheading. Deadheading does offer a cleaner, tidier look. Often people choose to deadhead to remove the faded blooms.

Sounds like your roses might have Rose Rosette--a virus that can affect all roses which is spread by mites and can be transferred to surrounding roses. Check out this article to see if this is what you have: click here

If so, we recommend cutting out the infected growth (if it is just a few canes) or remove the infected plants entirely. Remember to dispose of the infected canes or plants properly. Knock Out® Roses are not disease-proof, but they are the most disease-resistant roses on the market today. Unfortunately, this virus can impact all roses so we are keeping a very watchful eye on it and hope to find a solution soon!

Could be transplant shock. Make sure you give them a good, long drink of water. When a plant wilts, it is usually very thirsty.

There is not a white Knock Out® Rose but there is one variety that is very close. White Out™ is a great rose that has many of the same characteristics as a Knock Out®.

You can plant Knock Out® Roses in the spring or the fall.
Watch this video to learn how to plant!

All of The Knock Out® Roses will produce hips sparingly but unlike some other roses, they aren't all that interesting looking. The flowers are the main attraction.

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 Bill Radler who created The Knock Out® Rose. They are hardy to zone 5 and all are repeat bloomers with above average disease resistance.

The only true fragrant Knock Out® Rose is The Sunny Knock Out® Rose.

We are always working with breeders and hybridizers to develop Knock Out® Family worthy introductions, in all colors, forms and habits.

Go ahead and cut them back so they don't look so funny. Every once in a while, roses will send up a few tall, thick canes. There's nothing wrong and it won't hurt the plant at all.

If the roses can easily be pulled up from the ground, it might be gopher or mole damage underneath at the root level. Unfortunately if the roots are pretty chewed up, you'll want to purchase a new plant. You might want to look at a gopher/mole repellent in the meantime.

All of the Knock Out® Roses should be planted on 3' centers.  This allows room for them to grow and have good air circulation. 

All seven members in The Knock Out® Family of Roses are self-cleaning so there is no need to deadhead.
If you'd like to deadhead your Knock Out® Rose, watch this video to learn how.

Knock Out® Roses can grow fairly large in some parts of the country if not pruned. 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 early spring (after the last hard frost) is also recommended for maximum performance.

They prefer a balanced "neutral" soil, neither acidic nor alkaline.

The first wave of flowers will be abundant then the roses will typically have scattered blooms for the next five to six week period until another wave of heavy flowering occurs. This will repeat until the first hard frost.

The Knock Out® Family of Roses are winter hardy to Zone 5 and heat tolerant throughout the US. In fact, they thrive in every area of the country except where the winter temperature drops below zero in the the winter.

The Knock Out® Family of Roses will perform beautifully even with out 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.
Watch this video to learn more!

All of The Knock Out® Family of Roses need at least 6 hours of full sun every day.  The more sun there is, the more they will thrive and produce flowers.