It wasn’t long ago that roses were reserved for only the most experienced and committed gardening enthusiasts. These high-maintenance beauties required special pruning, just the right soil, and special supplemental treatments to stay healthy and abundant. They were susceptible to particular diseases, as well as beetles and other pests.
All that has changed with the introduction of Knockout Roses®. These gorgeous flowers – truly worthy of their name – are surprisingly hardy and easy to grow in zones 5-11. In fact, since their introduction to the market in 2000, they’ve quickly become the most popular roses sold in America today! Here are just a few surprising benefits of Knockout Roses:
- “Self-cleaning” – while they should have a good pruning in early spring to reach their full potential, Knockout Roses don’t require pruning, and don’t even need to be dead-headed.
- Disease-resistant – the “black spot” the frequently plagues traditional rose varieties is rarely a problem for Knockouts. Even if they do develop a disease, they can generally bear it better than other roses. (However, they may be susceptible to Rose Rosette Disease, so preventative treatments are still recommended.)
- Drought-resistant – these hardy roses withstand dry weather better than just about any other type of rose, making them an easy choice for weekend gardeners and municipal and corporate plantings.
- Insect-resistant – Knockout Roses are bred to stand up to insects better than other rose varieties. That said, care should be taken to protect them from rose-loving beetles and aphids. (Talk to us about preventative treatments.)
- Full sun not required – While all roses need sun, Knockout Roses will grow in partial shade. It’s worth noting that no roses will bloom in dense shade. In very hot, dry areas, partial shade is recommended for these roses.
- Long blooming season – Knockout Roses are bloom from spring through frost, every 5-6 weeks- and bloom abundantly.
- Can be planted anywhere – these flowers are so easy to grow and care for, they’re frequently found in municipal concrete planters and even on highway medians. They make excellent borders and can even be trained to beautify fences.
- Fast-growing – Knockout Roses can easily and quickly grow to sizes of six feet in height and four feet in width. Many gardeners will consider this a benefit; rose purists who prefer smaller rose bushes will want to prune regularly.
Knockout Roses are a great choice for anyone who wants the beauty of roses on their property. The advantages are abundant, and there are only a few drawbacks that most people won’t mind (or notice): one is that they’re not really suitable for cutting, since they grow on shorter, thinner stems. The other is that their scent is faint, not the classic sweet fragrance we expect from roses. However, these are very minor disadvantages that have no impact on the appearance or ease of growing these flowers.
With gorgeous blooms and a broad range of colors and hybrids to choose from, Knockout Roses are an excellent choice for almost any Connecticut garden.
