Q.Knockout Roses Look Terrible
My daughter had knockout roses planted last spring. They did fine last summer. They were never pruned back in the fall or spring and they’re quite large.They are not blooming at all and look terrible. We did have a late frost this spring. She is located in Central Ohio. Would it be ok to just cut them back now and hope they come back next year? Thanks, Marsha
Not in the middle of the summer or a heat wave. Check your rose bush from time to time in late winter/early spring and, when you start to see new shoots growing from the canes on your rose bush, that is a good sign that you can prune. Knockoutroses.com says that a Knockout Rose pruned down to 1' high in early spring will grow to 3' by the end of the growing season. That is probably a general estimate; it may be less the further north one goes as the growing season will typically be longer in the south.
