If you’ve had trouble growing roses in the past, Knock Out roses may be just thing you’ve been looking for. Knock Out roses are a commercially sold brand of roses that come in many different varieties. They are easy to plant, easy to take care of and are known to be very disease resistant. They can be grown throughout the United States and they are resistant to the harsh conditions in Zone 5 areas. Whether you’re already the owner of Knock Out roses or considering planting some, the following tips will help you prune them.
Instructions
Step 1
Don't prune too often. Unlike other types of roses, Knock Outs don’t need to be pruned each and every year. As long as you like the shape and height of your roses bushes, you can prune as little as once every 3 years.
Step 2
Time your pruning. If you want to encourage growth in your Knock Out roses, time your pruning for the early spring. This way you’ll remove old growth and prepare your roses for the growing season through the summer. If you want your Knock Out roses to stay the same shape for the long term, prune in the summertime.
Step 3
Sterilize your pruning shears. Pruning your Knock out roses will be easier with hand pruners, instead of lopping shears. Make sure to sterilize the shears before you start pruning and in between cuts. You can sterilize with rubbing alcohol or a commercially available pruning sterilizer.
Step 4
Keep the future height in mind. You should prune your roses 2 feet below the height you want them to reach. For example, if you want 3-foot bushes, trim them back to a height of 1 foot. Over the course of the growing season, the bush will grow to meet the 3-foot height.
Step 5
Prune at a 45-degree angle. Making your cuts at this angle will encourage future growth and minimize the amount of stubs and stumps you’ll get after pruning. Make your cut about ¼ inch above an outward facing bud.
Step 6
Look for canes at the base of the roses. Canes are spindly vines that grow up from the base of your Knock Out rose bush. These canes are meant to increase the number of flowers, but they don’t always produce good blooms. It’s better to remove them by cutting them at the base of the rose bush. You can always encourage growth from the inner branches.
By Courtney Ramirez, eHow Editor
