Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I know you can find them at the local nurseries but I am curious to hear the opinion of people with first hand experience of growing them in their landscape. How do the hold up in our climate? How long are they in bloom? Any problems with Japanese Beetles?
Mine have not done well at all, it's still hanging in there (hasn't died yet) but it looks pretty pathetic. I'm thinking that they really might need full sun and mine are not getting enough. I may dig it up this week and move it and see if it does any better in another spot. I've not noticed a significant problem with Japanese beetles, but it is also in a location with some regular roses, so perhaps they prefer the regular roses over the knock outs.
Anything has to be better than regular roses - I inherited some from the previous owners and what a pain! I broke down and used both a spray and a systemic pesticide/fungicide, and they still lost most their leaves to blackspot. I shy away from roses because they are high maintenance, so I think these will go once I get trees planted.
My sister says that knockout roses are great though - so I think it's worth a shot. Oh, and there are some planted around my office building in Durham. They seem to be doing very well.
I have a red double knockout and it does great! Blooms from spring to fall with little care, and the japanese beetles seem to leave it alone. Very easy and pretty.
Mine have not done well at all, it's still hanging in there (hasn't died yet) but it looks pretty pathetic. I'm thinking that they really might need full sun and mine are not getting enough. I may dig it up this week and move it and see if it does any better in another spot.
I think you're on to something. My neighbor's yard has full sun. Not much lasts there, but the Knockout Roses seem to be doing great.
I have had knock-out roses and really like them. They are easier than reguar roses, and can be low maintenance in the right area. I have some that I barely trim back toward the back of our property and they are still blooming and are around 5 - 6 feet high.
The ones in the front of our home and around the patio I like to keep lower and fuller (2' max) so I regularly dead head them and cut them back. They do look great though!
Beetles -We had a LOT of Japanese beetles this year so I sprayed them SEVERAL times. We also have crepe myrtles near them so it could have been a combination of the plants that attracted so many.
Water - I also took them OFF our drip irrigation. They do not like a lot of water and they do NOT like to be watered by sprinklers, roots only.
Deer - One thing I was surprised by was that deer were eating the new shoots! I had no idea that deer liked roses, but apparently our neighborhood herd does.
I guess if you have a spot that will not be hit by sprinklers and deer and you are willing to deadhead/trim as needed and spray or use Sevin powder on your roses they are a great choice!
Encore azaleas (Encore can bloom up to 3 or so times a year) are excellent, a lot less maintenance, no beetles, no deer, but not as showy. You can also get them in different height potential and a lot more variety of color blooms.
can't go wrong with knock out roses or encore azaleas. All roses do better in full sun and Most azaleas like some shade. And don't believe anybody who says deer won't eat cone flower, roses, etc. if they are hungry enough, they will eat anything.... ..especially new tender growth. And it is best to water Everything at the roots instead of overhead. If you have to water overhead be sure to never let ANYTHING-especially grass...got to bed with wet leaves. This encourages fungus and other diseases. So set your timers for say 4 or 5 a.m. and you should be OK.
Knock Out Roses have set the horticultural world on fire truly. See how many commercial establishments use them? They wouldn't be planting anything that wasn't proven to be disease and insect resistant.
I know you can find them at the local nurseries but I am curious to hear the opinion of people with first hand experience of growing them in their landscape. How do the hold up in our climate? How long are they in bloom? Any problems with Japanese Beetles?
I just saw in the sales paper that Lowes has Knock Out roses 2 for 10 bucks through Monday. But please save some for me in Durham.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
