What about Red Cascade? It can be trained to climb, but also "creeps". However, at least on my plant the flowers are tiny. And how do you feel about Wing-Ding? That one makes a statement, does not resent pruning, in fact reblooms all the time in my friend's garden. I haven't tried Peter Pan, but it looks like it stays very small. I am purchasing it from Heirloom later today. They have both Wing-Ding and Peter Pan on sale for $5.95! They have Red Cascade as well, but I might have seen that one somewhere else for less than $13.95, which is their price.

Doesn't look like you have much mulch in your bed. I'd suggest a 2"-3" organic mulch over the whole bed. Also, did you only add organic amendments to the planting hole (bad idea), or did you oincorporate organics over the whole bed (best idea). if you did the first, the roots will often stay within the "improved zone" and that inhibits growth..

I have grown Knockouts since before they became the star of the disease-free rose world, about 5 years. They are the granddaddys and mainstay of my cottage garden. You can always count on them. Now I have them in front of my house in fuller sun than in the back and they are lush in both locations, always in bloom without any sign of black spot or insect damage. However, Knockouts are ROSES, not wax myrtles. They should be watered deeply on a regular basis and fed throughout the growing season. I deadhead mine regularly, but I've read that that may not be necessary. I also have two standard, tree-form Knockouts which I bought on clearance at Lowes about a month ago for dirt cheap. They had suffered the usual Lowes/Home Depot Abu Ghraib style of rose care and were definitely the worst for wear. Now, after being repotted and given a little puppyscruff love and attention, they are gorgeous. In fact, one of them will be featured at the Lee County Fair Master Gardener's exhibit. Believe me, I don't do much. I am a big fan of KO's, so do not give up. They merely require the most basic care (minimum part sun, air ventilation, water and fertilizer), and then they just keep giving back those lovely cerise single blossoms for about 8 months of the year. peace, claire in sanford

In a container I'd go for the newer, shorter types of Knock Outs -- Double Knock Out, Double Pink Knock Out, Sunny Knock Out. They are naturally a bit smaller than the older types making them more amenable to container culture. Do use a top notch potting mix (like CLM) and be prepared to water often in summer. That pot's not that big from a shrub's point of view. Marty