Double Knock-Out Roses add a major splash of color to any garden but the best thing about the whole Knock-Out line is their very low maintenance.. The Knock-Outs are gaining a cult status with gardeners because they are disease-resistant, bloom continually and need very little pruning or dead heading. They have been described as the workhorse of the flower bed and can take a wide range of temperatures, zones and soil conditions. If you really feel you must prune your Double Knock-Outs follow these simple steps.
Instructions
Step 1
Avoid pruning the Double Knock-Out rose or the Double Pink Knock-Out rose at all in the first 2 to 3 years.
Step 2
Sterilize your sharp pruning shears with hot water or alcohol. This guarantees a cleaner, healthier cut. Always prune at an angle and not straight across.
Step 3
Activate the Double Knock-Out into growth and blooming by pruning it back a little in the spring after the last hard freeze.
Step 4
Keep the rose under control or if you want it smaller than it's 3-feet wide by 4-inches tall size by pruning it back in the late summer or early fall.
Step 5
Remove dead or old canes at any time. Also cut very thin canes that might be coming up from the ground.
Step 6
Prune your mature plants by using the 1/3 rule each year in the spring. Remove 1/3 of the oldest canes and any stems that are damaged, diseased or dead.
article by Squarecat Designs, eHow Editor
