Knockout roses

Question

I need my roses to be in full bloom for my daughter’s wedding Sept 17. I live in northern Kentucky. What can I do to make that happen?

Answer 1

It is difficult to get rosebushes to cycle their blooms as needed sometimes. However Knockouts bloom very well, so it is possible. Once the roses have bloomed and died back, prune off the spent blooms directly below each bloom. This will leave little stems sticking up. This seems to hasten the onset of the new growth that will produce the new buds and blooms. Keep the rosebushes watered well and fed well. Use a product called Super Thrive in the water the rosebushes are watered with. This helps them deal with any heat or other stresses that could delay blooming.