will monkey grass kill my roses?

Question

My wife says that the monkey grass growing in our front flower bed will choke out and kill our knockout roses. Is that true?

Answer 1

It certainly can. The monkey grass roots will steal nourishment from the rosebushes and also valuable soils moisture. I would create some barriers around the rosebushes so they have their own feeding and water take up zones. Knockouts are hardy roses but need to have a happy healthy root zone.