did my knockout roses die due to the harsh winter?

vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)

9 years ago

Hi, I don't post often but have been lurking around and have learned a lot from you. I only have a few knockout roses and use them as focal plants for my perennial gardens. I have 3 red ones for the last 5 years and they bloom from late May all the way to October with minimal care.

This winter we had record breaking cold weather. Even though there was lot of snow but there were times when snow melted then extreme cold weather moved in for days.

So I trimmed the knockout roses in April as in the past. I noticed that most of branches are dead. As of now, only a few tiny new growth started at the base. Almost all branches are dead without new growth. Are they all dead? Should I wait for a few more weeks? They are in the center of the garden so will look really bad and empty without something to replace them.

Any thoughts? Will they grow back or should I go ahead and replace them now?
Thank you!
Vivian

Featured Answer

Michaela (Zone 5b - Iowa)

9 years ago

Hi Vivian, This is my second year with a knock out and mine died almost completely down to the ground. I was really disappointed and cut the dead canes down to maybe 4-5 inches from the ground. It has already grown about a foot and is covered in leaves and is showing no signs of stopping anytime soon. I hope yours do the same. As for blooming, I have no idea since this is my first year of roses after overwintering, but I think there is hope!

Michaela

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

PRO
Whitelacey
9 years ago
Vivian,

Since there is growth from the roots they are not dead. The winter has killed all the top growth and you will have to wait until new growth matures. You may or may not have bloom this year.

My knock-outs are in exactly the same position as yours and I am farther south. I don't think mine will do much this year so I am going to plant annuals in front of them for the summer.

Linda
vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)
Original Author
9 years ago
Linda,

Thanks for the response and information. I am hopeful that they will survive. I can wait for next year for them to bloom again.

Great idea to plant annuals in front of them. Will need something grows fast and tall. I am thinking purple fountain grass. Any recommendations for some fast growing annuals that can be used as focal points in the center of garden?

Thanks again!
Vivian
Related Discussions
Has this past harsh winter made you rethink your tree choices?
Q
Comments (27)
Of My "late drop" Live oaks. 3 had last winter as their 2nd winter in my yard zone 6 SW Pa. One came back from the roots One plain out died. And one is in purgatory. Just joking. It isn't dead but it isn't actively living/growing. It's a zombie tree, I guess. In the middle pic it has green under the bark, but you can barely see it. I believe it will make it, but it will be after a chunk of the season is past before leafout. If anyone doubts the green under the bark I will try to get a picture with a flashlight shining on it. The top pic is the one that came back from the roots. There are red/pink buds on the one with my hands on the twig showing the bark. I just don't know how long until it starts showing some life beyond some tiny buds and green bark. But if they come to life soon, I will be glad I tried and succeeded with them, thus far. Not knowing how late leaf out and growth will affect them long term. Before finding the patch of green underbark, I was ready to think maybe the pink things weren't buds and it was dead. I sat and looked at this tree for a while trying to decide if it was dead or alive. I had a magnifying glass, too. The top couple limbs sticking up had the most red/pink buds, 3 clustered at the end. But not as many lower down. Usually the tips die before the lower portions. Well, as long as the green trunk is green it is alive, and has lived through last winter, it is going to leaf out somewhere, from the top, bottom or middle. All I can do is wait.
...See More
Winter Care of Knockout Roses - Is it necessary?
Q
Comments (15)
I'm not sure what your zone is in northern VA, but I doubt you will need to winter protect. I don't have winter protection issues with my Knockouts here in zone 6b but I'd like to address pruning. I left mine alone for 3 seasons but now regret not pruning last spring as they only now bloom at the top and are taller than I wanted for the space I planned for. This rose will also hold onto its leaves longer than most cold-hardy roses. Don't worry about that, they will fall on their own eventually. In fact, the cardinals love using it for cover when they come to visit my feeder. They seem to like it even more than the native shrubs around it! I suggest waiting until early spring, which is from Valentines Day until Easter here, and then thinning out some of the the inner twiggy growth and shortening the shrub by one third at the most. This rose gets such a complete coverage of leaves that the inner growth tends to die out for lack of sunshine. And like any other landscape shrub, the lower branches will die if they do not get enough sunlight. Think wider at the bottom than the top to shape it. I didn't appreciate the Knockout clan until I saw what great 'doers' they really are. It kept them from my shovel more than a few times. They really are the easiest roses to grow, so enjoy!
...See More
Where Did You Plant Your Knockout Roses?
Q
Comments (20)
Flowermum, my topics are usually intended as helpful threads for all. This one has particularly good posts. I'm glad you found it. Vikki, I'm 'way south of you. I think it's just a universal southern planting. The Knockouts are in front of Winn Dixie. They have a right turn lane cutout, so I can slow down and really look, LOL. BYW, many of the small towns here have landscape people but some have 'plant ladies' -- the plant ladies create stunning displays. Cairo, GA is where I was introduced to pentas and Iceland poppies, and actually saw delphiniums growing in one of the Bank parking lots in the shade of Crape Myrtles! Nell
...See More
Have they survive this harsh winter?
Q
Comments (8)
If Rhodie bounces back, in fall before temp drops to low 40’s apply an antidesciccant to those leaves. Wilt Pruf is one product; available as a spray bottle or concentrate — buy a pump sprayer for concentrate & add water in a 1 part Wilt Pruf to 5 parts water. Shake bottle well before using the concentrate. Burlap is good to protect against drying winter winds. Remove in April. I agree, if rose was grafted, it looks dead. Graft unions should be buried in the ground. A better route is buying own root roses, which doesn’t have problems like graft union failure. On any rose cut at a 45 degree angle to where you see green stems or just above leaf growth when you have winter damage. In my experience, this winter had the worst winter damage on my roses. They are bouncing back & had their first feeding of Rose Tone in late April. Once roses have fully leafed out, apply Epsom salts (1/2 Cup maximum) around roses & again mid summer. They need the magnesium for good bud formation. Feed your roses with a granular fertilizer monthly during growing season. Stop feeding in early September. This signals to them to stop putting out new growth.
...See More
AnneCecilia z5 MI
9 years ago
As someone who lived in zone 4 for many years and regularly pruned roses right down to the ground, don't count out those Knockouts bouncing back with new growth and blooming for you this summer if you keep them fed and watered. I've often seen 3' high blooming roses in late June after starting from soil level in May. They're certainly NOT down for the count.
Meanwhile, I know you can't bear to look at what's left right now, but be sure you don't cut your Knockouts off from sun and nourishment in the soil by giving them too much competition from fast growing annuals planted too closely to them!
vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)
Original Author
9 years ago
Hi Annececilia and Michaela,

It is so good and encouraging to know that these roses may still be growing (and they are definitely not dead). Similar to you, I have cut off all the dead canes last weekend. I will feed them today and keep them appropriately watered (not an issue with our spring weather so far this year). Hopefully new growth will continue.

My two pink double knockouts (in a different part of the property) are doing fine and there are good new growth already.

I probably will not plant new and tall annuals right next to them so the roses can receive good sun light and nutrients. I am thinking using a couple of pots strategically placed to create some colors needed for the garden while not create competition for the roses.

Thanks for the information and now I am much more hopeful!

Vivian
Michaela (Zone 5b - Iowa)
9 years ago
Hopefully you'll see more growth here soon but the fact that you have some at the bottom makes me think they'll be just fine! Mine started at the bottom and have been working their way up. It seemed like once I cut the canes down it started growing much faster, hope you will find that true for you too!

Knock outs are so beautiful.Glad to hear your other knock outs are doing well! Keep us updating on your roses! :)

Michaela
anntn6b
9 years ago
I watch several patches of Knockouts in Knoxville TN.

One patch were pruned back to six inches late in 2013. IMO the pruning was way too severe.

Elsewhere in Knoxville, Knockouts are blooming including those that were pruned to 12 to 24 inches.

The severely pruned roses are only JUST NOW beginning to put out growth from the roots.

Extrapolate northward and have a lot of patience.
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
9 years ago
I just noticed today when we were at a local church that there 40+ knockouts hardly have any leaves yet. And we are in zone 6a but had a much colder then usual winter also...

So yes its going to take patience this year...
vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you all for the information and encouragement. I will try to be patient (never my strength:) and hope for the best. I was just reading an article today saying that stock investors should learn from gardeners: focusing on long term and managing the uncertainty. Well said then.

Vivian
Roxana *** ZN 5 Indianapolis IN ***
5 years ago
How did your roses do? I am exactly in the same situation and would like to see what you did :)
Patty W. zone 5a Illinois
5 years ago
Roxana,

I just saw your comment. Since so many Knockouts are sold up here what a shame they can’t add something to the tag. Maybe a little note to cold zoners to see a web page with advice. I have had a knockouts for a long time and most folks simply don’t know that they are crown hardy here not cane hardy. Each spring after winter they must be pruned nearly to the ground. Then they will regrow each year to bloom again. This is why most of our roses in the north do not grow as large as roses in warmers climates.

did my knockout roses die due to the harsh winter?

Michaela (Zone 5b - Iowa)

Comments (11)

Whitelacey

vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)
Original Author

Related Discussions

AnneCecilia z5 MI

vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)
Original Author

Michaela (Zone 5b - Iowa)

anntn6b

jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6

vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)
Original Author

Roxana * ZN 5 Indianapolis IN *

Patty W. zone 5a Illinois

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

did my knockout roses die due to the harsh winter?

Comments (11)

vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)Original Author

Related Discussions

vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)Original Author

vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)
Original Author

vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)
Original Author

vivian_2010 (IL Zone 5a)
Original Author