We sell knockouts at the place I work. They sit on a black cloth weed barrier, are in full sun and smallish pots. They have been gorgeous all summer, foliage is still great and flowers are still as pretty as their first full flush. They get watered every day, other than that no special care is taken. I wonder if they are water hogs? Adele

I have grown Knockouts since before they became the star of the disease-free rose world, about 5 years. They are the granddaddys and mainstay of my cottage garden. You can always count on them. Now I have them in front of my house in fuller sun than in the back and they are lush in both locations, always in bloom without any sign of black spot or insect damage.

However, Knockouts are ROSES, not wax myrtles. They should be watered deeply on a regular basis and fed throughout the growing season. I deadhead mine regularly, but I've read that that may not be necessary.

I also have two standard, tree-form Knockouts which I bought on clearance at Lowes about a month ago for dirt cheap. They had suffered the usual Lowes/Home Depot Abu Ghraib style of rose care and were definitely the worst for wear. Now, after being repotted and given a little puppyscruff love and attention, they are gorgeous. In fact, one of them will be featured at the Lee County Fair Master Gardener's exhibit. Believe me, I don't do much.

I am a big fan of KO's, so do not give up. They merely require the most basic care (minimum part sun, air ventilation, water and fertilizer), and then they just keep giving back those lovely cerise single blossoms for about 8 months of the year.

peace, claire in sanford

Have you had the dry late summer we have had? I would guess its the lack of regular watering that accounts for the difference. Once they get established they may do better.

Speaking of Knockouts...there will be a red variety called Home Run available next year! There was an ad in this issue of Fine Gardening.

Pam

Mine get half day sun. They were planted in unamended sand, not fertilized with very little supplemental water other than to get them estabished. I don't dead head them. They have been great all season, no sign of disease and lots of blooms. I must admit that I was skeptical at all of the claims they made but these plants truly are no maintenance. I really love them. Theresa.

Boy, if they can take the abuse that Theresa has handed them, they must be the rose of the century!

I gave one today as a homewarming gift to a young couple with brown thumbs. I think I'm going to go back next week or so and plant it b/c they will let it die in the pot!

PF, I'm always leery of those cousins of great cultivars. I have Carefree Sunshine, which is supposed to be the yellow KO and it doesn't hold a candle to the original. Also, I bought two standards at Lowes about a month or so ago. The cerise pink is a specimen extraordinaire now but the blush though covered with new growth and buds, had a sloughing off of yellow leaves that the originals rarely do. Time will tell with that one.

peace, claire in sanford