I am in east Texas, about 3 hours from you. I have some Knockouts in several colors and cut them back severely in February - they get so big I have to do this. Just trim them back, water them, mulch them and they will most likely start showing you some new growth. These really are good roses for beginners.....I don't have any blackspot issues with mine. Other than the compost, was the soil good that you planted them in? Maybe the fertilizer you used might have burned them - watering will help leach it out. If leaves are a light green, possibly with the veins showing, get an iron product from Lowes [forget the name of it but think it might be Ironite] and mix in water and water it in. I have a few plants that do this and one watering with the iron is all it takes to green them up. Mulching will help - we haven't had any rain either - make sure you are getting the roots watered. Maybe leave a hose on them for 15-20 minutes going very slow. You might think you are watering well when the water is actually running off and not getting to the roots. I hand water a lot and I will water one group, then another and come back to the first group [and so on] to make sure there is adequate water getting to the root zone. If they are planted getting the hot west sun, it might be a little hot for newly planted roses. Just keep them watered and mulched. Good luck - you will get the hang of it. I am no expert but have grown [and killed] enough roses to have finally figured out what they like. Oh, and Home Depot usually has some good deals on mulch...... Judith

I have a related question. I bought a Christmas Cactus that's in full bloom around Christmas for my mom. she over watered it and all flowers fell right away, but the plant is okay. I asked my mom to keep it in a bright place but away from direct sun light and keep it dry. We are in chicago and it's still very cold. I wonder when can we expect it to bloom again. Will it bloom twice a year, and how long does the bloom usually last? Am I doing the right thing to promote the next round of blooming?

If they freeze, they will definitely lose their buds, and a good portion of the plant also, so you have to judge about the temperatures whether to bring them in or wait until later. If it is a slight frost, they can be covered with an old sheet during the night. We have had several frosts and I covered mine in zone 5, and they were okay. That being said, it is almost time when we will be getting snow and hard frosts. I have actually brought mine inside already, just this week, for the winter. I have had them bloom indoors for me most years if I treat them as a house plant ( or forest LOL ). When bringing them inside, remember to spray them well with insecticide as you definitely do not want an infection of spider mites or aphids during the winter which can contaminate all your other house plants. Good luck. Keep us posted about your progress. If you get blooms in the winter, try to post a photo so that we can all share your excitement and success.

Ugh, another weird name hydrangea from HD (wonder what the REAL name is?). Do the petals have streaks of darker purple or red running through them? Could be Peppermint Swirl (see link below for why I say this). You'd probably be correct on the age (2 years). When I decide to pot things I buy, I usually go straight for 5-gallon. And I just set the root ball in and backfill with standard issue Hyponex potting soil. I find this soil has a nice weight to it, retains water, and contains adequate nutrients as is. You can add your choice of pelletized fertilizer next year. If keeping potted all winter, remember to store in a cool place where the roots will NOT freeze (this also means bring it in when you start getting consistent lows in the high 20's). Your choice of whether or not to cut the blooms off. You might want to enjoy them and remove only when spent (dried and papery). Here is a link that might be useful: Could be one from HGTV's Showstopper Series This post was edited by Springwood_Gardens on Wed, May 28, 14 at 17:20