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Showing posts with label roses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label roses. Show all posts

Friday, July 4, 2008

Knock out Roses

I have received an inquiry from a reader, in regards to Knock Out Roses.
I do not have any roses of any kind in my garden right now, but after reading that these are considered easy to grow, and that they are adaptable to full sun or partial shade, I am thinking of maybe adding some to my garden!

Check out this hedge! Now that would make the paper boy think twice before hopping over it! What a beautiful garden!

Knock Out roses were developed by William Radler, a Wisconsin botanist who was looking for a hardy, disease-resistant rose bush. Knock Out roses are a shrub rose bush that grows to about 3 feet in height and stays in a relatively tidy mound. Proper care will keep this rose bush blooming late into the fall.

Step1: Cut the Knock Out rose bush down to approximately 12 inches in early spring, using a handheld pruner.
Step2: Shape the Knock Out rose bush during the growing season. Keep the mound as rounded as possible. Trim any branches that are growing faster than others.
Step3: Remove faded blooms by deadheading to encourage new growth. Regular deadheading will keep the Knock Out rose bush blooming until late fall.
Step4: Water the Knock Out rose bush at the bottom of the shrub. Reducing the shrub's exposure to overhead watering prevents leaf spot and disease. Increase the watering frequency during dry weather. ( unless of course, you suspect aphids. In that case, a strong spray will evict the little squatters from their feast.)
Step5: Spread a layer of mulch around the Knock Out rose bush, taking care not to pile the mulch against the stems. Apply mulch approximately 3 inches thick. ( I do not mulch, but I water daily, so this is not going to be necessary)
Step6: Apply a fertilizer developed for rose bushes. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on fertilizing frequency. (I use Miracle Gro garden fertilizer weekly on my other roses, and they love it)
Step7: Ensure that the Knock Out rose bush is in a sunny location with well-drained soil. Roses placed in heavy soil may rot. (also see below for alternate locations)
Unlike most roses, KNOCK OUT will grow very well in part shade locations with excellent disease resistance. Water deeply and regularly (mornings are best). Avoid overhead watering. Good air circulation promotes vigorous and healthy growth and helps control foliar diseases. Summer mulch helps retain moisture, keeps roots cool and discourages weeds. Remove spent flowers to encourage rebloom. Crowns may need winter protection in cold winter areas such as St. Louis. Remove and destroy diseased leaves from plants, as necessary, and remove dead leaves from the ground around the plants both during the growing season and in the fall. Prune as needed in late winter to early spring.
Possible Problems:
Roses are susceptible to a large number of diseases, the most common of which are black spot, powdery mildew and rust.
Good cultural practices are the first line of defense in disease control, but regular preventative fungicide applications throughout the growing season are often required, especially if you are living in a humid climate with regular rainfall such as the St. Louis area.
The good news is that KNOCK OUT has excellent resistance to the these diseases, and often does not need regular fungicide treatments.
Potential insect problems include aphids, beetles, borers, scale, thrips, rose midges, leafhoppers and spider mites.
Roses like Knockouts and Carpet roses will take a break during the hottest days of summer.... nothing you do will start them up again so don't go crazy with the water.... you can, however, see that they have a regular fertilizer regimen, or use the slow release rose granule fertilizer.....then water normally and wait... the weather will ease up and they'll bloom again just fine.....(I suspect that this may be your problem Gollum, but since I am not sure of your location, I cannot be sure)
I do hope this information will help you figure it out! Be patient...as long as it is not brown and crunchy....you still have hope!

Until Next Time....Happy Gardening!

*)*)*) to those special three...Admitting your mistakes is not a sign of weakness but a sign of maturity.

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