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Planting Knock Outs tomorrow..... need advice

15 years ago

I have purchased eight Knock Outs to plant in the front of our new barn. The tag says that they grow 3'x3'... but from what I have read on this forum, they get much larger (and I have seen larger established ones). It says to space them 3feet apart, but I am wondering about spacing from the side of the barn. How far out should we plant them?

The barn is back off the road, so if they grow tall, I am not concerned (it will look pretty in front of the big barn!). I just don't want them to be crowded up next to the barn.

Any help with a rose newbie will be appreciated! I have heard that the Knock Outs are very hardy, so I thought that I would start with them and see how it goes!

Thanks for you advice.

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Comments (3)

harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
15 years ago
My Knock Outs are pretty much ignored. I don't water or fertilize them. They still become big, bushy bruisers which need to be pruned twice a year in order to keep them at 6'. You could probably plant them 4' apart and still have a wall of roses.

NOTE: You may get some Knock Out knockers on this Forum. KO is a great landscape plant which will bloom repeatedly with little maintenance. The blooms are not exhibition rose quality, but there are lots of 'em.
Terry Crawford
15 years ago
Like Harry says, Knockouts grow big. I'd say don't plant them any closer than 6' from the wall of the barn. That should give them plenty of room to grow, and leave you plenty of room in case you need to paint or make repairs to the barn.
-terry
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starlightfarm
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the advice. I have seen established Knock-Outs that are definitely larger than the 3ft that is estimated on their tags.

I think we have decided to plant them 4' apart instead of 3' (the area we are covering is a 12' wall on each side of the entrance. I purchased 4 plants for each side, but after reading posts on this forum regarding the Knock Outs, I think we will spread them out a little and go with 3 over the 12' space.

Thanks again for your help.

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