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Midwest Gardening

Knock Out rose or ??

18 years ago

I'm already planning for spring--I want to change out the plants that are at the front of my lawn behind a split rail fence. I have been admiring rose shrubs all year that I think are Knock Out roses, but when I look up Knock Outs, the color looks different. I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if these are a variety of Knock Out or something completely different. I don't have a picture but the rose itself is a dark red-pink and the leaves have a silvery blue tint to them from a distance. Many of them still have flowers at this time. Maybe I should just knock on the door and ask (??!). I've seen them in more than one yard.

Any ideas?

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Comments (5)

Carol_Ann
18 years ago
Try posting in the rose forum -- people there should be able to help. There's also a rose gallery (link on rose forum page) -- if you can get a photo and post it, that would be even better.

Or if you can catch people out in their yard (or are comfortable knocking on doors), go ahead and ask. Most people are happy to share gardening info.

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Rose Forum
tatiana_il
18 years ago
There are four different types of roses that have "Knock out" in their names.
Original "Knock Out" is very bright/ neon/ pink. It is one of the most repeating bloomers in my garden. Flowers are single, in cluster 5 or more. In my opinion they look the best from distance in-group plantings. Foliage is dark green and glossy, young leaves have burgundy color.
Another is "Pink Knock Out" have similar growing and blooming characteristics as original "KO". Bloom color is light pink / rosy-pink/. They look the best in mass plantings, from distance can be mistaken for Rhododendrons.
And the third variety is "Blushing knock Out". It seems grows smaller the fist two and definitely need some afternoon shade. It's pale pink flowers fade to dirty white in matter of hours. I planted mine at the base of original "Knock Outs" in semi-shade. They look very nice together. Foliage on this rose is lighter green and blooms remind me of "Dogwood"
There is another rose called "Double Knock Out" I have not seen it personally yet, but hopping to get one up coming spring.
All of these roses are virtually carefree, once a week watering and twice a season fertilizer will keep them looking nice from mid May until late October
Tatiana.
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Originally, the "Fairy Roses" were dwarf (two to sixteen inches) rose bushes with single or double blooms, cultivated in the 1800's. They are/were dwarf or miniature Chinas and are probably virtually extinct now. The fairy rose available today is a Polyantha Shrub Rose which is usually a smaller than average rose bush, growing to about three feet. The pros and cons between Polyantha Shrubs and Knock Outs are pretty much dependent on what you like, want to take care of, and how much you want to see the same thing (particularly in the case of the Knock Outs) in almost every garden from Maine to California and everywhere in between.
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A grouping does look good. I'd plant them into the garden now so the roots can get established. Even the hardiest roses can die the first winter if the roots have not had an opportunity to grow into the surrounding soil. August is a really hot dry time to transplant a potted rose. Unless you water regularly and deep you could lose them especially if the soil falls from the roots when you transplant. Nature size and planting distance is determined by your growing zone. Pruning can be easy. After each flush of bloom, allow the flowers to fade some. Use a pair of hedge clippers and remove the dead blooms along with a inch or so of cane to shape the bush. In a few weeks new buds will form along with new growth. You'll have more flowers within a month. Yearly pruning should be done in spring. Remove winter killed canes and dieback along with any damaged ones. Cut back as far as you want to shape the bush and keep it in bounds. As much as many rosarians complain about Knock Out being the only roses available in many garden centers, their ease of growing and hardiness encourages many to grow roses again. The desire to grow roses soon entices them to try other varieties.
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Do you have large trees right behind it, looking at the plants on the ground behind it it looks almost like this is on the edge of some tall trees? I can also see something is shading the soil right behind. If you planted this close to large trees its possible the root system of the trees is taking all the water/nutrients from your soil. Are the roses shaded as well? You need to ensure the rose gets at least 6 hours of good sun during the day. I would continue with the fish fertilizer every two weeks, and make sure the rose bush gets plenty of water. The fish fertilizer should help green up the leaves, I used it on a camilia this spring that had light green leaves which was all wrong for the plant and the fish fertilizer used a few times helped green it up nicely.
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Comments (1)
Thanks Henry!
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joandaugh
Original Author
18 years ago
Tatiana--thanks for all the info! I wonder, when you say group plantings, how many plants do you have in a group? I am hoping to plant in a strip along the front of my yard but I don't want it to look sparse. The strip is about 12 feet long and 2-1/2 feet wide. I can check the recommended spread but I wondered what your own preference is.

The bulb catalogs are starting to come in the mail! I wish I had room to plant some when the time comes but I think things are pretty full for now. It's just fun to daydream.
tatiana_il
18 years ago
In my border "Knock Outs" on the back for screening purpose with about 5-6 ft distance. They are 3 years old, every year I cut them back to 2-3 ft high to the ground, they reach 6x6 by the end of summer. In front of the border I planted "Blushing Knock Out"s, mixed with perennial such as salvia, daylilies, irises, lavender + some low growing annuals in white, yellow and blue tones.
This border is about 45 foot long by 8-12 ft wide runs along my driveway. I do not have water source near by, so the plants receive only occasional watering + rain. Despite that they thrive and bloom non-stop.
As it seems you have limited space I would just mix "Pink Knock Out"s and "Knock Out"s , as they have similar size and form, in one row + plant some lower growing perennials and annuals in front of the row.
You can add "Happy Returns" lilies , they look good together. If you plan roses 3-4 ft apart they will form solid hedge probably in 4-5 years. In you zone you should not have much of winter kill. I am about 200 miles south of you, my "KO" do not suffer from winter at all.
I also would advise you reasonably priced, quality sours for "Knock Outs" mail Order nursery from Texas "Chamblee's Roses" . They are absolutely wonderful, knowledgeable people. Their roses are under 10 dollars and they charge actual shipping. Over 60% Roses in my garden came from them, all of them doing great; e-mail me if you have more questions about roses.
My e-mail is northjackson@consolidated.net

Here is a link that might be useful: chamblee's
tandjroseranch
18 years ago
Amity Rose & Garden Nursery has the original cherry pink Knock Outs on sale this week for $9 each + actual s&h

Here is a link that might be useful: Amity Rose & Garden Nursery

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