[starflyte1]

I would like to buy some Knock Out Roses, but need to buy the healthiest possible. I don't have much luck with plants, so need to start with the best. Thanks! Pat

[SALYBOW]

Ditto all of the above. I will be waiting for an answer to this post.

[jblum315]

. . . . .

[Pookirgirl]

My friend bought me 2 Knockout Rose bushes when we moved in. I never had luck with Roses either and didn't know where to plant them. We decided to put them at the base of our lightpost in the front yard. They are doing fabulously and even made it through the cold Winter months without covering them. They are blooming beautifully! Good luck!

[chuckinca]

I believe Lowe's gives a year guarantee on live plants.



.

[BobandMarilyn]

Fairfield Farms is the best nursery we have found in the area. Knockout roses are low maintenance - amend the soil, plant in full sun, and water. http://fairfieldfarmsthevillages.com/

[graciegirl]

Knockout Roses are just hardy. They really will do well here in a sunny spot. Heck, they do well in Cincinnati in a sunny spot.

They are grown to survive even purple thumbers and they all come from the same ....growers...so you can buy them anywhere and they are the same, genetically. (Unless the poor things haven't been watered, they are the same)

If you are new, remember that when you go to the post office to change your address they will give you a packet (nationwide) for moving that has a coupon with....more than 10% (??) off at Lowes. You can use it on a washer or a dryer or a Knock Out Rose plant.

How can they come from the same growers if you can buy them in Cincinnati and in The Villages???
They are the same genetically...but I don't know how the rest happens.

[aln]

There's a man in my village that is a member of the rose club and his roses are along his drive on the south side of his house. His garage faces south.
Up north, I had pretty good luck with roses on the east side of the house.
Full morning sun avoiding the hot afternoon sun. Seems that would be good here too. Careful watering - should be done at the roots rather than getting alot of water on the leafs and buds.

[skip0358]

I have at least a dozen. I put fertilizer down arond the drip line. Trim the old or dead buds as they die off.( god I hate using that word ) and they will grow, and grow. Water with your regular watering schedule more so when first planted and the LOVE sunshine. I've seen red,pink, white and yellow. I just got 5 more from Home Depot as they had just gotten a fresh shipment.

[downeaster]

I bought double knockout roses at Porters (now closed). Put them each side of garage door. They did so-so. Moved them out on the lawn in full sun and they are prospering. I would go the extra mile and get doubles again and make sure they get plenty of sun.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by starflyte1

I would like to buy some Knock Out Roses, but need to buy the healthiest possible. I don't have much luck with plants, so need to start with the best. Thanks! Pat

Hi starflyte,

Even though I cannot give advice on where to buy Knock Outs because I am still, alas, in Cincinnati, I simply could not resist jumping into a thread about Knock Out roses.

When you said here that you do not have much luck with plants, I just had to post to offer you sincere words of encouragement. My guess is you are going to do just fine with your Knock Outs.

Why?

Well, first of all, I call Knock Outs the sturdy peasant stock of the rose world. (sorta like me)

Although I love to garden, I have no patience with plants that are way too needy. While I am truly in awe of what a real rose gardener can do, I know better than try to grow those kinds of roses myself.

But I get along just fine with my Knock Outs because they do not require a whole lot from me.

When mid-March arrives, here in Cincinnati that's the time of year to run out into the yard and hack back those Knock-Outs. Makes me feel a bit like the Red Queen, shouting, "OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!" (Actually, it's more than their heads. They are taken down to a foot or even less from the ground.)

As far as pruning goes, throughout the season, they will bloom either way. But a little pruning increases those dependable blooms. In Cincinnati, they will bloom until frost, but they do take a little rest from time to time, but not for long.

Last year we hit a time here when there were weeks and weeks of no rain. Although I watered the Knock Outs, I did not overdo it. Sometimes, it is almost like these things thrive on a little neglect. (In fact, yellow leaves can mean over-watering of plants.)

Like I said, I probably have no business jumping into a Florida landscaping thread with my Southern Ohio experience, but I think Cincinnati can come darned close to matching Florida's humidity in the heat of summer here. (I happen to really like humidity. I know -- that's kind of strange, I guess. But it's true. I could never retire to Arizona.)

I must confess though that when August rolls around in Cincinnati, I know that I will become downright lackadaisical where my flowers are concerned. And my Knock Outs do not miss me a bit and just bloom and bloom while I sit around on the patio reading a book.

Knock Outs are shrub roses and I have been growing them since I first heard about them. I do not know much about the business end of plants, but I think when a new variety of plant appears, it is sometimes under patent. At that time, the variety is more expensive but later becomes more widely available. (I might just have made that up -- but I think it's right.) Some of my Knock Outs were bought from a nursery and some came from in front of the local grocery store. And they all get along just fine.

On and on I have gone here with my Ode to Knock Outs. But before I step away from this infernal computer, I have one more thing to say....

A couple of years ago, I got my first double Knock Out. Red. My other Knock Outs are planted together, but the double Knock Out is by itself in an area of boxwood and some purple plants. That red double Knock Out's blooms are absolutely stunning. A real stand-out. And just as dependable and independent as can be -- maybe even more so than the originals.

So if you see any double Knock Outs there, you might want to try one of those.

So anyway, starflyte, have courage. Do not be intimidated by that word 'rose' in its name. Embrace the Knock Out rose! (Whoops.....Please do not literally embrace it because it does have thorns. But you know what I mean.)

Boomer

[champion6]

starflyte1, thanks so much for asking this question. After reading the informative replies, this is a plant that I'm definitely going to try when we get to TV.

[Barefoot]

We bought knock-out roses at Publix and they died. We bought knock-out roses at Fairview Farms on CR 301 (north of CR 466) a year ago, and they are blooming profusely right now.

For those people closer to 466A, Terrascape on CR 301 has good stock.

[JohnN]

I like Terrascape and Fairview Farms too.

[starflyte1]

Thanks to everyone for their replies, and especially Boomer. I feel special!

I took everyone's advice. I now have 7 Knock Out Pink Double Roses growing in my yard and they are beautiful. I bought them from Fairview Farms. They have many from which to chose. Even the salesperson said that my plant luck was going to change since I bought the roses.