Get all the pruning details you’ll need in this simple guide.
Check the plant for signs of growth when daffodils or otherearly spring-blooming plantsbegin to flower in your region.
Check plants weekly to catch early signs of growth that indicate its time to prune.
Credit:Scott Little
Pruning Knock Out roses just as the leaves begin to expand has two significant benefits.
Quickly identifying and removing winter-damaged canes will lead to a healthier plant.
Another benefit of early season pruning is the accessibility of the shrubs form.
Credit:Kritsada Panichgul
Cut dead stems back to the base of the plant.
Expect the plant to stand 3 to 4 feet tall by midsummer.
Pruning stimulates growth, and Knock Out roses are known for their exuberant growth.
Light pruning results in a gangly, unkempt plant by midsummer.
While the shrub will still bloom well, it wont have a pleasing form.
Kritsada Panichgul
Steps for Pruning Knock Out Roses
1.
Cut Stems Back
Using your bypass pruners, cut live canes back to 12 inches tall.
Make your cut just above a leaf node at a 45-degree angle that slopes away from the leaf.
Cut Out Dead Stems and Small Canes
Use loppers to cut dead stems back to ground level.
Dead stems are leafless and brittle.
Cut away small, twiggy canes, too.
These petite canes will have limited flower buds and wont contribute to the overall structure of the plant.
Gather and Discard Debris
Rake up and remove cut stems and twigs.
Clippings left near the base of the plant could harbor disease so it’s best to clean it up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lack of sunlight is likely the cause of limited flowering.
Knock Out roses needsix to eight hours of direct sunlightdaily to produce flowers.
No, you dont need to prune faded flowers.
Knock Out roses are known as self-cleaning.
They naturally shed their spent flowers and abundantly produce new flower buds.
Occasionallydeadheading faded flowerscan help tidy up your plant, but isn’t necessary to encourage more flowers to develop.
Knock Out roses dont need fertilizer to bloom well.
Always apply fertilizer to moist soil to avoid burning the roses roots.
