Connie,
Welcome to the wonderful world of roses. You are starting with an easy-care rose, so that cuts down on the number of things you need to do.

Yes, adding some amendments to the soil would be good--manure or compost or peat moss, etc. I usually dig a 2x2 ft hole--others say 18 inches. Plant the rose at about the same level it is in the pot and water it thoroughly (really deep). Thereafter, water a couple times a week, especially in really hot weather.

Don't worry about feeding it until it puts out some healthy new growth. Osmocote may not be a good choice this late in the season in Zone 5 since it works for at least several months and you need to stop the feedings in August so that the rose has time to harden off before winter. Perhaps wait and see what some Zone 5 posters have to say on feeding this late (I'm in Zone 6).

No, do not cut it down before winter. Early next spring it may need pruning to cut out the dead and winter damaged canes. Again, I'll let Zone 5ers tell you how to winter protect.

With Knock Outs, you won't need to worry about spraying, so that will make life easier for you.

That's about it. Since you are planting so late in the season, just keep an eye on the plant to make sure it is getting enough water--but avoid water-logging it, on the other hand.

And enjoy your new rose!

Kate

Kate,

Thank you for your help. I don't have a green thumb, so I hope I don't kill it. I started out looking for The Fairy, then moved on to Bonica. Could not find either one and was told by several landscapers that those varieties were not the best choices since newer roses had been introduced that were better. I'm not sure the Knockout is the look I have in my mind, but I'll give it a try.

Another question, do I have to use a rose cone? How do I protect it over the winter?

Thanks again.

Connie

Hi Connie,
Double Knock Out is a pretty plant--I think you will like it. I have two of them, one in the front yard and one in back.

I don't think you need to worry about rose cones and things like that. Probably all you need to do is, after the ground freezes, pile up a mound of soil or mulch about a foot high around the rose. Then wait til spring. If you can count on snow cover all winter, the snow will protect it. The biggest problem for me here in Zone 6 is that our winters alternate between warm and cold weather--very hard on roses!

Since the heading of your post does not indicate the range of questions you have, I suggest you post again in the fall and specifically state in the subject line something like "How to winter-protect my Zone 5 rose?" That ought to get rosers in your area to respond. Although I grew up up north, I didn't grow roses then, so I'm repeating what I've read on some posts here. You'd probably feel better getting responses from your own region--that's always the best advice.

Good luck--and keep on reading here at GW. All sorts of good info. to pick up.

Kate

You actually won't have to do anything to winter protect, in my experience. I grow the regular Knock-outs at our local park and also our church. They get no attention whatsoever in the fall. The ones at the church sometimes get leaves blown in around them, which I do not rake out, but the ones at the park are in a wind tunnel and are always blown clean. You can trim them in the fall if they are unruly (like the dead branches are in a place that will grab your coat as you go by - near a driveway for instance). Otherwise, just leave them alone and when spring comes, trim them down to living green stems. In my climate, they get a pretty severe pruning (like maybe 18" of cane left), but they come back quickly. I trimmed all the ones at the church almost to the ground this year way below where they were alive) because they were getting too oversized. They are an easy, carefree rose, and will no doubt get you hooked as badly as the rest of us are. :0)

As for fertilizing, Miracle Grow (actually Miracid) will do nicely until about the end of August. Many growers quit fertilizing then, I tend to continue until at least the end of September. I figure there won't be much growth that will survive Ol' Man Winter anyway, hardened off or not, so I keep them blooming like mad as long as possible.