I say - go for it! I have a few in a row and love them because they are so easy to maintain! I don't even deadhead them. (Actually, I deadhead them with electric pruners to keep them the height I want.) And with boxwoods in front, how classic!

For last mother's day, I gave my mother six to go in front of her garage - and she does absolutely nothing to them (she has the blackest thumb ever) and they are still blooming and growing.

Be forewarned, though - this is how my love of roses started. Got a few flower carpet roses, a few double knock outs, and when they did well, I decided I could grow roses (!) and graduated to the Austins, teas, shrubs, and OGRs.

So, again, I say - go for it! It will not only beautify your yard, but will give you a big boost of confidence. :)

Oops---sorry---forgot the link!
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/3073/knockouts.jpg

Nice picture! Mine are not quite that full of blooms, and they bloom in flushes, but I still don't think you'll be too disappointed. Here where I live, they have knockouts planted in the medians along the highways and they bloom almost continually in the summer. I have other roses that bloom all summer, too, but the Knockouts have the lowest maintenance requirements.

Ok, I think I'm going to give it a go.... Thanks for both perspectives! :)

All my DKO are always in bloom. They are not the only roses to bloom continuosly, but they too do it.
I think you will not be disappointed.

Consider also placing some hips-producing roses, else you will have a rose garden looking rather dull in winter.

"Consider also placing some hips-producing roses, else you will have a rose garden looking rather dull in winter"

Can you explain further? I'm a complete novice! lol
Also, after seeing some knockouts today I'm not 100% sure they are what I'm looking for: 2 issues:
1.) I can't seem to find a red that is a true deep red (not a pinky fuschia red)
2.) I'm not sure the leaves look as lush as I'd like. I'd like more 'green' if that makes any sense... like a hydrangea bush would have. But I have my heart set on red flowers...

Home Run is a decendant of Knock Out, and it is a true red. Not as tall as KO though.

Now, if I could only spell "descendant"...

Here is a link that might be useful: Home Run photos from Helpmefind.com

Joan,
Why don't you go to the search box near the top of the page and type in "red roses." We have had a couple really good and long threads in the past year discussing all the reds and their strong points, etc. Maybe if you studied those lists, you could come up with several that interest you and post again asking just about them. I'm sure you would get lots of responses.

One thing you need to know about roses is that they often bloom in flushes, and many rest for several weeks between blushes. Don't want you to be taken by surprise after planting that many roses. : )

There are other roses that are nearly as easy-to-care-for as the KOs, and they are often prettier. And it might be better for you to plant the roses next spring. I'm not sure what zone you are in (some parts of Ohio are in Zone 5, for instance). Whatever, if you have cold winters, the rose roots need to be well-established to survive winter. Your roses might have a much better chance of surviving with a spring planting.

Look at it this way--it would take the pressure off you to come up with an instant perfect rose for your project. You would have all fall and winter to search for that perfect rose.

Well, it's a thought, anyway. LOL

Kate

Oops--I missed your new thread asking for red rose for hedge. Sorry. But you still might want to search for the old threads on red roses.

Good luck.

Kate

Kate,
Seriously, that just may be the best advice I've gotten all week :)

I am need at this point of an excuse to put the roses off till the Spring---and you just gave it to me! That takes off the pressure to find the perfect red rose in 3 weeks. I have been searching the threads here... will continue to do so! Thanks soooo much

It would be a very excellent idea to plan on doing research for this project for the next few months. Find out where *locally* you can see different plants growing. If you are interested in roses, plan a trip to the Garden of Legend and Romance in Wooster. Seeing a wide variety of different types of roses can give you a feel for what is possible. Walk around the neighborhood and see what other people are growing. Make notes about plants that particularly take your fancy, and plan on checking up on them later on. Something can look wonderful in June, and horrid in December - not necessarily a desirable characteristic for a highly visible area.

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden of Legend and Romance

Mom has a couple of Double Red Knockouts growing in her garden in Western Arkansas. They bloom all the time, are healthy, and attractive. But, as you say, they are not true red.

Randy

Joanneb, I too am a new gardener, never planted a thing outside in my life, and whaddya know, I started with a tree rose (in March 2009) hahaha! of all things...

But really I urge you to take the advice of DublinBay and Mad_Gallica...Really reconsider whether you want to have so many KOs... In my opinion there are sooooo many more lovelier and just as hardy roses.... I don't like KO because they don't have character in the formation of their petals and shape and they don't have scent...Bees don't particularly seem to care for them either... I see KOs everywhere and if you choose KOs it would be like choosing a landscape that looks like a typical apartment complex...KOs are everywhere, on every single sign, even fast food restaurants have KOs outside, every apartment complex is plastered with them, hotel chains, etc. etc.

I too as a newbie did too many same kind of roses. Two Special Occasion roses, 2 Lincolns, 2 Sutter's Gold... And I guarantee, once you get hooked on roses you will wish you had far more than just one kind...

Roses are like MAGIC... there are so many prolific bloomers like KO but with much more loveliness and all kinds of color...For me the magic is also fragrance, so I say take your time and best! of all just like everyone says, visit a real rose garden...Stupid me didn't do that, so I've got too many same kinds even though I love them all except for boring Queen Elizabeth with zilch fragrance (when I first started roses as a newbie and didn't know any better)...It's just that now I've discovered so many more roses and because I only have very limited space, I am indeed "stuck" with what I originally selected.

My zone is probably more harsh than yours since we have little snow cover in the winter, so maybe I can help. I have Earthkind roses, Austins, HTs, OGRs, minis, and every knockout that's come out.
I LOVE the knockouts. The double ones are far far better than the singles, and Pink Double is the best. Mine are in bloom constantly from late May until first freeze in November. I bought 5 bare-root, bagged, double pinks this spring to do a hedge and they look awesome. I have several Home Runs and if you want the single bloom look, it's a great nonstop bloomer in a true red. I did not cut mine back in the winter, and we had several late frosts, but the knockouts and Home Runs recovered faster than any others. I have bought several as gifts for non-gardening friends just so they could say they grow roses.
One of my beds has red KOs, Karl Foerster grass and Russian sage and it's a good combination that looks good for 4 seasons.
I do agree with posters who say wait and plant in the spring. I have much better luck getting roots established in the spring.
cindi

joannemb,

Yes knockouts are very low maintenance and extremely heat tolerant, in my opinion though the single knockouts look much better and to me have much more foliage that the doubles. the doubles are very "airy" looking. it all depends on how you feel about them once you see them. 10? and boxwoods? just be careful of overcrowding because both plants can get away from you in no time. When you go to buy your knockouts MAKE SURE there is a tag or label saying they are knockouts, they usually only come in red or pink, "real" knockouts are actually a copyrighted and licensed product and if it doesn't say knockout its not one. Also if you are going to be being a large quantity of them at one time its always best to get them from a nursery that has some kind of warranty.