Knockout Rose Bushes Look Dead. No Blooms For Months,just Branches About 5ft Tall

Question

Should we cut the rose bushes, way down or just have them removed and replace? When we first moved into our home, the bushes were fantastic! We have been here for 5 years, in North Georgia. The knockout roses were already at the property and there are 2 of them in from of the house.

Answer 1

You can scrape off some bark and see if there is any green underneath. If so, they are still alive. The branches should be flexible. If they snap off easily, they are dead. Each spring, Knock Outs should be cut back by about half. If you find green, try cutting them back in early spring. If not, I suggest replacing them.

Then there is the question of if they died due to disease, is the soil contaminated? Sometimes it is risky planting the same species of plant in the spot where a plant died of disease. Often a different plant will be OK. If you really want Knock Outs there, work in a lot of compost to enrich the soil before planting.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/knockout-roses/knockout-rose-diseases.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/planting-in-old-spaces.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/knockout-roses/care-knockout-roses.htm