I know a lot of people that prune Knockouts with a hedge clipper. Maybe try that next year.

I have to do the same thing to my knockouts but I am just waiting til March when i can convince my DH to go after them with hedge clippers and chain saw :) . I had NO idea the dear little knockouts I purchased would grow so rapidly and so HUGE! I see professional landscapers placing these bushes together with barely a foot between them and in awful places for a large shrub. If I can't get mine tamed this spring, I'm yanking them out of my front yard and placing them somewhere along a wall in the back where they can grow as tall and wide as they want to. It makes me wonder if the landscapers pull them out when they get too large or just prune constantly.

Seven feet tall??? Oh, Wow. I planted a bunch of them as an inner border along my walkways because I read on the net that KO only gets 3 feet tall...oh, I'm in trouble...where am I gonna put 'em all???

Do all varieties of KO get that tall?

I feel your pain. I was outside all day today pruning all my roses back which consist of quite a few KO's and yes they are boogers to prune. I do prune every spring so mine are only about 4 ft tall but I have seen them 5 & 6 ft. tall. Wouldn't want to tackle those babies. I have some between crepe myrtles and plan on pruning them hard after every flush to keep them under three feet. My others can get as tall as they want since they are in spots where they can grow and grow. I must admit I am not getting anymore other than two of the new white ones because they are harder to prune than the floribundas and teas but they are in constant bloom which I love.

Even with good spring prunning Knock Out easily gets 7 feet tall and wide. Not a small rose, by all means. I don't know where this 3 feet size came from. Probably from the areas where it gets plenty of winter dieback. W/o dieback ,it is a monster, but happy one. I actuially like it.
Olga

I also bought 3 double K.O.s' thinking they woud be 3'. Olga, how hard do you prune them back in the spring? I have recently moved from zone 4 and winters did a good job of prunning for me so I'm not sure how far back these can be pruned. Another question, If they aren't pruned will they bloom as nice?

Hi Olga
The knockoutroses.com description of every color KO is that the AVERAGE is size 3'x 4', and only briefly mentions one time that some CAN grow larger. That is the site that I used to make my decision about where to put them. I should have asked the rose forum folks first...lesson learned.
Avalon

Since Knockout is a shrub, it should never be pruned as you would a HT. Rather you shape a Knockout up which means you cut it back enough so it has a pleasant shape and is manageable. But PRUNE - NEVER!

All previous complaints about Knockouts (and there's been a boatload) have dealt primarily with the facts that they're EVERYWHERE and that they're boring in more ways than one.

This post my be the first salvo in an inevitable onslaught of bitter complaint that's sure to rage for a long time to come. I'm glad that the truth about the growth habits of these "plant and forget" roses is finally beginning to emerge. Unfortunately, they're already happily growing in scores of public landscapes that go largely untended, and in yards of countless homeowners who thought they were planting low maintenance (if not no maintenance) roses.

I suspect that Knockouts will eventually be added to the long list of horticultural fads that now provoke cringes and shudders when they're so much as even THOUGHT about.

My knockouts aren't effected at all by a hard prune in the spring.

Yes, I've heard people trim them back with hedge trimmers, and that's OK if they've been thinned beforehand. I let mine go so long there was a tangle of criss-crossed branches in the middle so thick that the inner and lower branches began to die out and fungus began to attack. I don't object to trimming them like boxwoods because the new season's growth hides the "meatball" shape quickly. In fact it's probably the best way to go, again, after thinning the center. And to really improve blooming, the top should be narrower than the bottom. Just like any other hedge-like shrub, the lower branches will be shaded out and die if you don't.

I ended up thinning out the centers considerably (hence the bodily mutilation), then getting rid of the bottom 6 to 8 inches or so of scraggly branches and pruning the top up to a more domed shape rather than flat across which it was beginning to become at a height where I could appreciate the blooms,5 feet or so.

On the subject of the ubiquity of Knockouts in the landscape, that doesn't make them evil. In fact it is a testament to their toughness. Believe me, I am the first to criticize the McLandscapes of America but some overly planted species have their place. Short story, I planted KO after I decided to see what the fuss was all about, afterwards I cursed it for its jarring color and lack of "soul" for a better word. I've threatened to SP it every year. My DH has asked me "Why would you get rid of the healthiest, fullest, best blooming rose in the garden?" That has always made me put the shovel away. So I guess I'll just have a love-hate relationship with it and let it stay. For now! Remember when rugosas were used in median strips in mall parking lots and Nearly Wild was the darling of landscapers? They may be a fad or they may prove themselves durable, time will tell.

And Blushing Knockout will always have a place in my garden. In my opinion it is the most pleasing of the series. Did someone say there is a white KO??? Hmmmm.....

I DO get scissor-happy with the pruning shears every April. It is necessary because KOs are not cane-hardy in Illinois...it got down to -22F 3 weeks ago and it is necessary to give them a good haircut. I just looked at the winter damage from the deep freeze and they are going to need pixie cuts; lots of cane damage.

So...yes....KOs do need to be pruned and I've been doing it with my gang of 10 for 5 years with great results.
-terry

I feel your pain (literally). This weekend my hubby and I were exchanging our 'we're getting old and this hurts and that hurts' dialog. I mentioned my hands hurt so much, but it wasn't arthritis, it was cuts from working on my roses (not knock out this time but a few of my other meanies.) I have of late seriously considerd thornless (or nearly) roses before I buy. I am tired of getting beat up by some of these thorny ones. I have in fact gotten nailed by a big thorn in my forehead. It hurts like a bugger doesn't it?
Nancy

Color me a hypocrite. I make ugly remarks about "knock-yourself-out" roses and then go and buy some more. I have figured it out. We resent having them called the same thing as our true-love roses. But they are really useful in tough locations like parking areas or medians, and they bloom a LOT longer than either azaleas or crepe myrtles, which we plant in masses in the south. I believe the solution would be to give them a new name...like "everbloomers" or "no-fuss-budgets" or maybe "easy-peezies". Then we could stop resenting their not-rosy characteristics and appreciate them for what they are: a whole different kind of plant.
Personally, I just bought a yellow and a double pink to add to my double reds, not in the same place. (And I will doubtless go on sneering at the vast proliferation of KOs.)

Instead of getting ripped to pieces from the thorns, use a chain saw! Just make sure the chain is sharp.

Chain saws scare me....one misstep and you're a goner. I'm not that talented; I'll take my chances with my Felcos instead.

I am pruning LOTS of ko's and other roses today and i'm thinking I may NEVER buy another rose of ANY kind. This is definitely the NO fun part of gardening. In their defense...I do love them. They are definitely my best bloomers. I hard prune them every year at this time and I don't think mine have exceeded 5ft. tall at season's end. Most stay around 4ft. Just bought some sunny and double pinks to add to the collection for this year and hoping to add some of the white ones as well.
April

P.s. I totally agree with Terry...chain saws SCARE me too!

Terry your just toooo funny!!

I have 11 Knock Outs at the side of the yard in their own bed. I think they are ok, and I do like the color until you get right up to them. I prune them hard each year so that I can get in and get the weeds better, and see what is going on with the lower canes. Now they are about 7 feet tall.

When I prune them I don't touch them. I use my long handled clippers and cut them at the height I want, then from the ground I cut them into smaller pieces that fit into my 7 gallon bucket. From the bucket I can pour them into the big bags.(After I cut them into small pieces, I barely touch them as I put them into the buckets.) It takes a little time, but I don't get that scratched.

What I hate is that to snap their blooms is impossible. They are one of the few if any other roses that I have that have thorns on the base.

Sammy

Linrose -- After reading the entire thread, I finally understand: You LOVE your Knockouts, it's just the care and maintenance of them that you hate, right?

Since you're looking forward to adding white KO's, I assume you'll also be thrilled when CLIMBING KO's in the full range of colors become available. It's sure to happen. What glad tidings that announcement will be! ;-)

What about KO tree roses? Someone must be offering those. Who?

windeaux .... our home depot and lowe's both had ko trees last year. I think J&P may have them too...not sure...

Sammy...whew whee....I know what you mean about deadheading those babies...they are murder on the fingers. I have thorns embedded in my thumb and fingers all summer long since I am OCD with deadheading and have to do it every time I walk by the bush. lol.

April

Sammy, you are a genius! I was smacking myself upside the head for not thinking of using loppers before. Could have saved myself some nasty scratches. I'm running out right now and buying some!

Original and pink knockouts are seven feet tall and very vertical in my yard. Blushing knockout tends to spread out more at five feet. The double knockouts are still about three feet or so. Rainbow and Sunny knockout are still under two feet. None of them really look or bloom better from prunning. So I only prune to remove damage from Gustave. Deadheading hasn't been necessary because of the frequent blooming. I suggest arm length leather gloves and long sleeves when prunning thorny roses.

The winter prunes mine every year to about 1 1/2 feet tall.

'Knockout' gets huge here too. Wicked thorns.

Might I suggest 'Nur Mahal'?
A rose you can give a big hug to when you walk by ... and your arms (and temple) will always be scratch-free.
Canes & leaves that are smooth as a baby's behind.

Randy

Hey, thanks for this thread. After reading it, I went outside to discover my neighbor practically in tears trying to prune her overgrown Knock Out and not having any idea what she was doing while she was getting all scratched up.

I whipped out those long-handled loppers and gave her directions based on this thread. She is so grateful and thinks I am a veritable fount of knowledge and wisdom.

Made my day!

Kate

Yes Kate, loppers, a very wise recommendation indeed, thanks again Sammy! And I'm waiting on some gauntlets i've ordered - a necessity I'm thinking now!

Randy, I've been wanting Nur Mahal for some time, just waiting to find it available. I always order too late.

windeaux - yes, and no. I don't love them, on the other hand I don't hate them. They fulfill a landscape need sometimes, but I'm not out to "collect the set"! Over time as my new garden begins to grow and other roses fill in and prosper, I will probably get rid of them. At least the original whose color I can't abide. I do have Carefree Sunshine which also provides a need in my garden. It's not the most sexy rose out there, but like any other landscape shrub, it does its job.

Wow, I had no idea Knockout got that large.

That sounds like the over-large once-blooming white climber I'm going to dispose of this spring! (It's a beautiful rose, but way, way too vigorous for the property and the thorns!!!!)

Here in NYC I've yet to see one over 7 feet around. And in MI too. I've had one for a few years now and I cut it back once or twice during the year but it's not seven feet tall!

I do have roses that got too big too fast, in spite of what I had read before planting them, but KO surely isn't one of them. And it isn't because my soil is no good - I've got "minis" that aren't mini at all, and shrubs that are actually big climbers.

Knock out knockouts.

I have yet to see a 7ft Knockout rose but then again the few people I know who grow them (including the local cities around here) takes electric or gas hedge trimmers to them every winter and some even a few times a year. There is an apt complex that I drive by every day that keeps them shaped so they look like a box hedge.

Yeah, that's just the problem. Cutting them into cubes or meatballs. Yuk! I guess I look at Knockouts like any other flowering shrub, like spireas for example.

After all that work I'm thinking I'll remove my original Knockout this spring. I'll leave the blushing KO for now. I have too many new roses on order and precious little space for them all. Time for the heave-ho!

OK, after reading this thread, do I understand correctly that I can prune a KO more than once a year?

I, too, thought they would remain about three feet tall. Mine are already quite tall this year, perhaps 4.5 feet after a spring prune down to about 14 inches. I'd like to prune them back to about 14 inches again. Do you think this will weaken the plant?

Mary

I'm familiar with a planting of 10 or so KO's that is over 7' tall with no irrigation and little fertilizer-- that's after 2 severe drought years, though they were established before that. (They are in Asheville, NC.)

Mary L:

It wouldn't hurt them, but 14" sounds extreme. To control size at 4-5', I'd take the lateral shoots back to 3' height after each flush of bloom and the strong basal shoots back to 2'. You may be fertilizing too much. They will bloom well without much fertilizer.

Michael,

Thank you for your reply. I fertilized once in the spring last year and again once this spring about 8 weeks ago so don't feel that is the problem. I also deadheaded after first heavy bloom cycle but they just keep putting up more blooms (and getting taller with the process). I think they must just like the spot! However, they're growing too big for the bed (in front of a porch railing). This is the only little spot I have that gets enough sun for roses.

Will prune again but not quite as short as I suggested and will see how they do.

Thanks once again for taking the time to offer your helpful advice.

Mary

Wow I am so glad I found you guys. I love roses and can handle the work involved,but I was lead to believe KO was maintenance free, after 4 yrs this is sooo not true. Am I the only one. I planted about 27 in memory of my dog Rosie so do not want to tip them out, but could use some encouragement

Also, fertilized like mad today, does it even make a difference, they bloomed at oral of once last year. Any thoughts are so appreciated

Total of once last year...

Hi Connie! Where do you live- general area/ zone? My KO here get pretty much pruned to the ground every spring. I give them some Holly Tone to get started, but you can use any slow release fertilizer on them - the granules you sprinkle like Osmocote or Miracle Grow. If you snip off the dead blooms they will probably bloom more for you. Keep them watered if you aren’t getting any rain, and mulching helps. If they are in full sun you will hopefully get more blooms this year. Good luck!

I have two knockouts and since I don't care if they live or die - I prune them all the way down. Haven't found this has hurt their blooming, they would be a great rose if they had a smell.