what's the best way to prune 'knockout' roses?

Question

i live in zone 8 and am wondering best way to care for my new Knockout Rose plant. thanks!

Answer 1

You can prune them anytime between the first freeze of winter to the last freeze of Spring. Actually, you can prune a Knockout rose anytime you like. These are one of the hardiest and easiest roses to care for and one of the wonderful things about the knockout rose is that it is an "Earthkind" rose which means that you technically don't have to do anything to it at all. No fertilizer, no herbicides or pesticides, no supplemental watering, and even no pruning if you don't want to. Knockout roses dead head themselves and the only reason to prune would be to promote more growth. Here is a web site you may be interested in. Several months ago an answerer sent it to me and I'm very impressed with the number of "Earthkind" roses on the market. This is a study and a complete list of Earthkind roses from the Texas A&M. I know this is more info. than you asked for, but I think it's really exciting.
Here is that site If you are interested in learning about Earthkind roses:
http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/EKroses/EKbrigaderoses.html

Answer 2

I own several of these roses and I prune them back in the spring.I only cut off about 1/3 of the plant and they grow to about 4 feet every year.

Answer 3

Hi there, fellow Texan.

I'm in agreement with the other poster.

Here in Texas we prune the first of March.