[janieb]

Originally Posted by Ron's Landscaping Inc.

Here are a few pointers for your Knock Out Roses, don't be afraid to cut them back periodically most people do not trim them back often enough. You have to cut them back in order to keep them in shape even if there are blooms on them. I'm often asked when should we cut them? The answer is when they need it, if you don't they will get out of hand and start to look terrible, any plant when growing, that is not trimmed will want to go back to it's native state. That means it will have 3 or 4 main leaders and start to look very sparse. The biggest problem I see with people taking care of there bushes is they do not prune them enough and don't feed them enough. Just don't feed them now in the winter to much because they will bring out new growth and that growth is very tender. And if we get a freeze the plants will get hurt easy. And for the "Knock Outs" February is a good time to trim them back hard, even a foot or so above the ground, they will come back just fine when it starts to warm and as you start to feed them they will look just great. I myself do not like Drift Roses all that much because they don't support themselves very well and they lay on the ground to much and don't show all that well, and I don't think they really do all that well in the heat. The "Knock Outs" seem to handle the heat better but they can yellow out a little when it is really hot and humid out,but they pop right back when it cools down again. I was a grower here in Florida for years and every time the seed companies came out with a new color or variety of plant it was the best thing since you know what. But after a season or two in the landscape that's when you saw how the plant really held up. Remember just because the lable says it does well in 70 to 80 degree heat, it may do better in a dry heat rather then Floridas heat along with all the humidity. "Knock Out" Roses are a good choice for this area keep them sheared-fertilized and dead head them and you will have a beautiful plant.

Thanks for the great advice. I need to do this to my plants here in Michigan and I am glad to hear that they will grow in FL also since I love that they provide color all season long.