The KO's I've seen get big - really, really big.

I agree with mountainrose. In a short period of time those will overwhelm your lovely planter. Something smaller would be better if you want room for companion plantings.

Yeah, that planter (looks lovely) is not going to hold 3 Knock Outs for very long. It looks like it is on concrete, it doesn't leave the roots much space. They get to 6' - 7' tall and 3' wide (one plant) here.

Agreed. You really only need one in the planter along with some companion plants. I love love LOVE my knockouts. They flourish darn near anywhere and grow like the dickens. Bloom until late Fall. If I ever fertilized them, they might overtake my house. I do nothing, absolutely nothing to them and they are drop dead gorgeous. Good luck with your planter. She's purdy :)

Thanks for the information...I just made this bed myself and pretty proud of it...I will replant them...But what companion plants go well with roses ??? I would like it to cascade over the edge...I was thinking moss rose,creeping Jenny or merigolds...

I have a lot of cleamtis planted with my roses. I also have some honeysuckle, but it seems to strangle the roses some and may get too big as well. Another plant that I use a lot of is echinacea (coneflowers) and also rudbeckia...although those don't really cascade like the clematis would :)

Tammy

Thanks Tammy

I use pelargoniums and they can cascade but again think they will grow too large for your planter. I wonder if some miniature ivy would be a good idea.

Hardy garden geraniums (perennials)--like Roxanne (bluish lavender)--are good spreaders and bloom a long time--but not all summer. However, the lacey, kinda ferny looking leaves look rather nice even when the plant is not blooming. I also have a white hardy garden geranium (Perennial) that looks very nice with my red roses.

Moss rose would probably work also--or a plain old-fashioned petunia will sprawl a lot.

I'd go to my local garden center, and any sun-loving annual that spreads and I liked, I'd go with it.

If it doesn't get too hot where you live, use some blue lobelia. Some of the newer kinds are fairly good in the sun--though by August here in Kansas when the whole world seems to have turned into one gigantic oven, lobelia often peters out.

Kate

Alyssum is an annual that will reseed. You can buy a pack of seeds or find some bedding plants. They smell like honey and will cascade.