In early spring, I would do a heavy pruning (leaving about 10-12 inches of canes), then fertilize, so the plant will be encouraged to rebuild its growth. I’m assuming the average height of those 3 plants in the middle is about 30 in.

How much sun do you get in that location? If it’s not at least 6-8 hours of sun, the plants may stay thin and elongated as they reach for light.

Those bush's don't look to old. I also have 5 KO's along the front of my porch. They don't get a lot of sun and have taken a FULL 3 years to bush out nicely. On the new bush's I let all the long canes bloom, then cut that stem half way down. By late summer I do a mild pruning and take everything down to just a little over knee high. After 3 years I have forced enough lower branch's where the bush's look pretty good. Unless you live in zone 7 or warmer, I wouldn't mess with them until spring. If you live in a warm zone, cut all the bush's to about knee to hip high and keep them watered good.

I live in Michigan so I will wait til the Spring. As for sunlight, they get sufficient light during the day.

So, to confirm the best approach would be to wait til Spring and prune them down to about 10 inches and Fertilize? Even though some of the bushes have 2-3 large stems only.

As long as they are getting enough sun,water, and your soil is good they should grow well...

These are Double Ko's which actually grow a bit smaller than regular KO...I cut the more mature ones back to about 18"-22" high each Spring...But I let the newer roses grow 3 years before I start pruning them like that... (Only taking off/out winterkill the first 3 years...) I do not fertilize besides throwing well composted yard waste compost under the bushes once a year...

Two smaller bushes were planted 1.5 years ago...Larger bushes are 4.5 years old....These roses get 10 hours sun in the summer and of course less sun this time of year...

Quick question. When pruning them in the Spring down to about a foot. If you look closely at the image, the stems, the large stems come up about 1 & 1/2 feet and them branch off. Should I cut below where it branches off. If so that would leave just one large stem. Thinking that is kinda extreme.

I'll leave the pruning advice to others, but top-dressing with alfalfa hay may encourage basals. I've had good luck with that this year.

Go with your gardners instinct with the pruning...

Most of the time our D ko's grow bushy here from the get go so I wait 3 years before pruning down harder...I let the bush forms its natural shape...

Yours are growing different though for whatever reason...

I have a Double Ko out front that grew like yours in the past...I just left it alone for a year or so and its now bushy....It gets only 5 hours sun compared to the 10 hours our backyard roses get...

Bengal,

How many hours of direct sunlight do they get a day in June? They may not be getting as much light as you think. Also, the lower half of the bushes being leafless is not normal. Knockouts under stress, even a black spot outbreak....yes, Kockouts are black spot resistant, not immune, will be bare of leaves on their lower parts.

It appears your desire is to have bushy, lush Knockouts. With good management: adequate light, water, fertilization, and growing in good soil with good drainage, in time, your Knockouts should meet your expectations.

It takes time, even for Knockouts.

One thing you should consider is testing your soil to determine if it is in the correct, slightly acidic range. Growing roses in soil that is of the correct pH is crucial.

There are inexpensive pH testing devices available. Amazon sells dozens of different makes and models. They are easy to use. Some are better than others. The soil probe meter types are my choice because you can test the soil for each rose bush right in its immediate root zone.

If your soil needs its pH corrected, it is a simple matter to do. There are many sources for information on a rose's pH requirements.

Also, all the well composted manure you can apply to your roses is the best growth boosting thing you can do for your roses.

I would give about a gallon per rose (1/2 of a 2 gallon bucket full), more for bigger bushes. Scratched into the top 2" of soil around each bush, then additionally top dressed about an inch or so of manure on that, with a nice layer of mulch above that, done in early spring every year will result in phenomenally healthy roses.

Always use well rotted, composted manure. Not all manure is alike. If you are reading ingredients on manure bag labels, some so called manure is actually a mixture of manure and compost....watered down with compost, sometimes up to 49% compost if it is the second, and only other ingredient listed.

Manure is old fashioned.....used for millennia in agriculture, but still the best 'fertilizer'.

Moses

Moses,

Great Post. Thank you.

I live in Michigan and my Roses faces East. But there is a big tree in the front on the Curbside. But for the most part the bushes do get sunlight. Not not sure just how much though. Other plans near by seems to do well. As for the soil, I have added the Scott's Rosebush mix. I'm assume it has the correct mixture. I will test the PH level to confirm. I guess my next step would be to wait until Spring and prune it down and see how it grows.

Wish you the best bengal3133! Please report back next year and let us know how there doing... Thanks!

Bengal,

You can get your Knockouts to look like Jim's. It takes time for them to mature, and consistent good management is mandatory. Keep us posted on your progress.

Moses