I live in zone 6. The temperature is mid to high 80s. Rain level for the past week is low. I have read your articles on planting and transplanting; however, they didn't say anything about midsummer planting, spring and fall yes. I was given a beautiful rose bush and I need your help. Thank you very much.
Yes you can plant the rosebush in those conditions. I do recommend using something to shade the rosebush from the sun during the hotter parts of the day. Such as a tipped over lawn chair of umbrella. Keep the rosebush protected like this for 2 to 3 weeks once planted. Water the rosebush with some water that has both a good root stimulator and a product called Super Thrive in the water, use such a mix the next 4 times it needs watering. This helps with any stress from transplant shock. The rose will likely shut down on blooming for a while until the root system gets going well.
The Knockout Roses I have in planters on my deck bloom well; however, the green foliage seems to be rather thin. Is this normal, or should they be "bushier?"
When the temps are hotter the rosebushes will typically shed some foliage or just have less in an effort to keep cooler. Once the cooler weather returns they will likely get bushier.
Attached is a picture of my knockout rose leaf (the bottom). Can you tell me what is wrong with them? They are well watered, good drainage, planted in container, get full sun and fed with rose food.
I will resubmit my question and hopefully the photo will show. I don't know how to do it from here. Thank you.
Attached is a picture of the bottom of my knockout rose petal. I don't know what is wrong with my plant. It has good draining, gets full sun and I have fed with rose food. This is a container rose.
If you notice some webbing within the foliage like spiders do, it could be spider mites. It could be other small insects as well. I recommend getting some Bayer Tree and Shrub granules and apply it as directed on the label for container grown roses, ornamental shrubs. If only the lowest leaves are effected, it is easier for soils dwelling insects to attack them even in pots/containers.
During the month of June something starts to eat the leaves. Some of those leaves look like lace with nothing left of the leaf. Also, now it is end of July and the leaves are turning yellow and dropping off. It is not killing the bush but they look bare until new growth comes in. We live in northern Virginia but when we lived in southern Virginia we had no problem. The bed the roses are in was set up five years ago, but I fertilize, spray, mulch. What can I do? Do I have to start all over again pull them out and redo bed?
Here is a link to any article for you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/roses/leaves-falling-off-roses.htm . I would also recommend buying some Bayer Tree and Shrub Granules in the big blue container. Apply this product to each of the roses as directed on the label. It moves up and throughout the rosebushes and has taken care of such things as the insects and worms that eat away the under part of the foliage leaving the lace look. I am not sure where you live now but if you climate is hotter, it can bring about new challenges in the garden just as moving from a dry climate to a humid/moist climate can do.
How do I prune knockout roses? What is the correct time of year to do this?
prune in june
You really do not have to but you can do a shaping pruning anytime. Here is a link to an article on this subject for you too: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/knockout-roses/prune-knockout-roses.htm and https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/knockout-roses/care-knockout-roses.htm
Can knockout roses be grown in pots successfully? How often should they be watered?
Yes they can be grown successfully in pots. Make sure you get large pots that have drainage holes in them as they do not like overly wet soils that stay too wet. The amount they should be watered depends on the climate where you are. Hotter days will make watering possibly an every day matter. Being it pots it is easy for them to get too dry much more quickly. I recommend buying a moisture meter and check the soils moisture frequently.