Knockout Roses- Keep 'em Flowering All Summer Long

Knockout Roses are just that-a splendid profusion of blooms which we can enjoy all summer long. At the "Wayne Bed & Breakfast Inn", I have had gorgeous bushes for the past few weeks, which are now not at all as interesting with the browning remnants of the spent roses.

If you wait long enough, the withered roses fall off all on its own, but new blossams are delayed in comparison to new growth with deadheading. So, you can help nature by deadheading the roses as soon as the rose has withered. With the deadheading you not only will get flowers faster, but by staying steady to this task, you will have roses into the fall. . . with a third or fourth flowering.

If you attempt to pull off the withered blossam, you might tear this stem. It is much better to deadhead the knockout roses with the use of pointy-nosed scissors.

Here's how: Follow the stem to the intersection of the first new bud, and snip as close to this bud as possible without clipping the new growth. With a little practice, you can snip and pull in one, clean motion.

Do not confuse deadheading with pruning. This is not any aggressive cutting of the cane of the rose bush, but simply removing the deadened, browning flower.

This will take some time and effort. However, the reward of spectacular roses all summer long is more than worth it.

If you have any tips about caring for your Knockout roses, please share them. More photos of the roses in bloom can be seen at my website: www.bnbinn.com