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Caring for knockout roses is a walk in the park, so to speak.

Being one of the hardier rose plants in existence, knockout roses are well suited as beginner plants for, well, beginner gardeners. Not only are they hardy and disease resistant, these magnificent plants also give a touch of beauty to any garden.

Developed by a Wisconsin Botanist by the name of William Radler, they were created to make a hardy disease-resistant rose bush, and he succeeded.

Growing about 3 feet in height, these rose bushes also grow in a relatively tidy mound that is easy to maintain.

However, if you wish to keep the plant blooming till late into the fall, some tips are in order to ensure your plants flourish. No need to worry if it will be difficult since caring for knockout roses is as easy as pie.

To start, using a handheld pruner, you need to cut your knockout rose bush down to about 12 inches in early spring.

Then, during the growing season, it is best to shape the bush into a round shape by cutting of stems that grow faster than the others. To ensure blooming till late in the fall, remove faded blooms by deadheading to encourage new growth.

When watering the plants, always water the plant at the bottom of the shrub to minimize the risk of leaf spots and diseases by reducing overhead watering.

If the weather is dry or hot, increase the frequency of watering to avoid dry roots.

Spread a layer of mulch about 3 inches thick around the knockout bush, but be careful not to let the mulch pile against the stem. You can use fertilizer as long as it is designed for roses, and remember to follow instructions.

Finally, make sure that the plant is located in a sunny location and the soil is well drained. Heavy soil has a tendency to rot roots. Simple tips, but necessary.

Despite these added work, caring for knockout roses is still one of the easiest things to do in gardening.

How tough are they?

A sample of how tough these plants are, there is a story of a hotel in Florida that planned to landscape it grounds using them. However, the project was abandoned, leaving the plants stuck in the balmy Florida weather inside a warehouse.

Without water or care, much less sunlight, the plants wilted and looked as if they were dead after a year in storage.

However, when discovered, they were taken care with the hopes of salvaging what can be saved. To their surprise, 90% of the roses grew back to full health.

Imagine that, leaving them for a year without sunlight and water and they still survived, how tough can a rose?

Remember, it may be easy, but caring for knockout roses still require your attention if you wish for them to reward you with blooms.

About the Author:

Peter Bourke is a rose gardening expert… for more information about knockout roses visit www.CaringForRosesSecrets.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Knockout Roses… They’re Super Tough as Their Name Implies

The “Sunny” knockout rose plant ( yellow ) in 2.5″ pots $6.95