I think Antiques (Luis Philippe, Blush Noisette, Mutabilis, Old Blush) would do even better, with minimum care.
I have a few KO (reds), but they do not do as well (well, but not AS well) as the Old Garden Roses, with the same amount of care

Oh I JUST took photos of my DOUBLE knockouts and will post later! They are great. I also planted a bed of them in front of my dad's porch with white petunias. They came through the winter fine.
I have one of the original singles and I wouldnt get any more.The single Knockouts grow quite leggy and look like a wild rose. Which is fine but then just plant wild!
So I really don't feed them rose food but then I use worm compost well aged horse manure and my compost (duck,straw,salad trimmings etc)
They are 9 bucks at Wally World.
Plant in mass for a real show! I know I sound like spam but Im not!

I have a beautiful Louis Philippe and an equally lovely Smith's Parish but this spot requires something much, much smaller - or at least lower. I think I can control the knockouts better and keep them a reasonable height.

Tanya, I'm glad to know the doubles have done well for you! I think I'll start with 2 or 3 and maybe transfer the whole bed over to them if it works out OK this year. Part of my plan to make my garden less labor intensive.

Thanks!

Kate

I have 8 KOs both pink and red, the single older ones, but they are on Fortuniana, from Nelson's Nursery...... the only problem I have ever had is last year with Chili Thrips, but 2 sprays with Bayer 3 in 1 took care of that... but I feed them good, lots of Black Hen, Alfalfa , Black Cow, Milorganite, and they just keep blooming... sally

hey, get in your car sat. and drive to the orange city hd. robert bowden, leu gardens, will be there to tell ya how to grow them. great program, worth the trip.

I've taken Robert's rose class at Leu Gardens and he is not only a knowledgeable rosarian, he's a charming and entertaining speaker. He is worth the trip, and combined with the other speaker at HD that day - Tom McCubbin - it should be a great program!

I don't think I can make it but I wish I could be there.

ok here is my double row of doubles.
tanya

{{gwi:819021}}

Perfect! That's exactly what I want.

Thanks for posting the pic.

Kate

i agree with tanya--i just planted a couple of the new double reds... they really are beautiful blooms. i have some of the original knockouts (pink) on their own rootstock... totally mediocre and would never do it again--the ogr's are much better (i like pink pet). but the new red doubles are really spectacular.

I posted them and other plants in the whats blooming post check em out.
tanya

Kate, I love KnockOuts, and have had them both grafted and on own root. Own root Knockouts do very well for me for about 5 years or so, then they start getting really "messy" looking, for want of a better word. (Maybe others have kept them going longer). If I could find anywhere close by that sold them grafted, I would go for those, but as it is, I just replace them now and then.

I have a single pink Knockout that is gorgeous right now, and it has been in the ground for over 5 years, so maybe it will make a liar out of me. My neighbor has a bed around her mailbox with single reds and that gorgeous pale pink one called "Blushing." They have been performing wonderfully for well over 5 years, too, come to think of it. But she has done wonders with her soil, and I've been lacking in that department, so it's probably my own fault mine fail after awhile. And she just put in a new bed with double reds and double pinks that is fantastic.

I don't think you can go wrong with Knockouts for trouble free, and a different look than the OGR's. No reason to make it either/or. I say enjoy them both!

Good luck!

Marcia

Marcia! Nice to 'see' you! I recently moved the Rainbow Knockout that you gave me into the side yard where it may get a little less sun but the soil is much less soggy. It is keeping the OGR from Nicki company. The poor Rainbow made it through the winter and rarely stopped blooming but it's only about 12" tall, stunted by living with it's feet in water most of the time. I'm sure it will be much happier where it is. I've abandoned that planting area in back because it's almost always too wet.

I found one double pink for $9 at Wally's yesterday on the way home from work. Everything else was a single or in a larger pot for $15. I'll keep looking for the $9 size; I'm sure they'll stock more for this coming weekend.

Kate