[Uptown Girl]

Originally Posted by Carla B

The gardening calendar published by the Master Gardeners(?) says to cut back the knockout roses on Valentine's Day. It's later than that by now and I'm having such a hard time getting up the nerve, as each one has dozens of blooms on it. When is it too late to do that?

Carla,
it's never too late for knockouts.... you won't kill the plant by pruning now. Knockouts never really go dormant here, so they do get tired.
I'd say you can surely take about one third off, maybe a little more. Just make sure there are green buds, new growth left when you are done.
Next year you can cut them way down if you like.

You will sacrifice some bloom for a few weeks, but if you feed them after about March 15th (last frost date) they should blossom again quickly.

I have used Bayer Advanced on my knockouts for years. Once a month, mixed in a bucket of water, poured around drip line of plant. Best time to do it is after they have had some irrigation or rain.
Also know that you can prune dead, damaged or unruly parts anytime.
Happy gardening!