Knockout rose question?

[jblum315]

Do you prune your knockout roses? If so, when? and how much? I have one that is seriously overgrown but blooming like crazy.

[downeaster]

There are conflicting opinions regarding pruning knockouts. I Googled "knockout roses" and found an abundance of sites dedicated to this subject.
I have double knockouts and I pruned them "severely" last Spring. By midsummer they were looking a little tired so I pruned them again. They have come back fine. I plan on pruning them again this spring.

Hope this helps.

[Doodlegirl]

You can prune almost anytime...but deep winter...so now is good. BUT, if you want lots of blooms, ALWAYS, pull off the dead heads. Always when you walk by. They don't like their neighbors on the branches croaking!

[inholmdel]

I have had knock off roses for seven years. I prune them back often but you really have to feed them lots of rose fertilizer.
My roses are fantastic.

[downeaster]

I have had knock off roses for seven years. I prune them back often but you really have to feed them lots of rose fertilizer.
My roses are fantastic.

Mine did fine through the first bloom. Just OK after. You have given me hope. Maybe not enough fertilizer. How much and how often do you feed yours?

[TomW]

I prune mine for shape and to remove old growth that isn't producing. They are heavy feeders and require a lot of fertilizer for even moderate results. You have to deadhead these guys almost like grooming them.

[CaptJohn]

I regularly prune mine and add potting soil and fertilizer once a year and mine have been doing great. I only prune to get rid of dead parts (not so much for shape). They came with the house I bought in 2003 and had to learn about caring for them as well as fruit trees without previous experience. Since they look good I presume I'm doing something right!

[Barefoot]

My bushes were always small because I pruned them. My neighbors bushes are huge and lush, and they don't prune at all. I'm going to stick with less pruning, and more fertilizer!

[moose]

It is what you prefer...small and prune --or let them grow. Good luck..they always look so nice

[Mikitv]

They can be pruned almost any time and dead head them too. When they get too leggy ( long and thin,) we cut them back and they come back fuller than ever. Never prune when they temperatures drop real low or a freeze.