IMO, Knockouts add pizzazz when they are young, but seem to get very leggy and bloom less over their life span, make their usefulness relatively short lived. Have not personally had them so can't confirm this is they way they always are, or if they could be maintained to be more productive. It's just something I've noticed about them in casual observation.

Seems like that bed could benefit from some hydrangeas, as that is rather plenty of long lasting color. So many to choose from for a variety of conditions.

Given proper care, Knockouts should bloom all through summer. That is really their peak bloom season. Although they can get taller/wider than one would expect, I have never seen them deteriorate significantly with age. Regular water, regular fertilization and a good pruning every now and again and they should last for years and remain looking good. Just like any other type of landscape shrub rose.

Do you have deer there in the north Georgia mountains? What about rabbits?

Yes, we do have deer, rabbits, and bears in the area. However as we have 6 dogs they tend to avoid our space, especially the front as the dogs are always on alert out there.

We just finished pulling out the plants I just didn’t love. The nandina, the red hot pokers and a barberry are all gone.

I am in the Atlanta area and in 2019 I had a spectacular flush of Knockouts for a few weeks in the Spring, after that there were blooms but nowhere near the Spring level. 2020 seems to be going in the same direction. Full disclosure, I take care of the roses but they are not my priority, so I can't rule that I could get better and longer lasting blooms if I studied more and tended to them more. However like you, in observing my area, rose blooming seems to more of Spring phenomenon.

If your heart is set on roses, you may want to post in the rose topic (https://www.houzz.com/discussions/roses) and see what responses you get about varieties (perhaps there are other varieties that are more suitable) and blooming duration.

If you just want long blooming flowers, you may want to get recommendations of other flowers that may do well in your location by posting on this site, discussing with your extension office or local nursery.

Yes Knockoff Roses deteriorate with age, just slower with good care which they rarely get in most gardens. The fatal Rose Rossette Disease does exist is in the Southern Appalachian mountains. In the winter they are a naked box of thorns, speaking of which, your mail carrier will not appreciate thorn bushes by the mailbox. You might not either. I don't even think they belong in this forest setting.

Hydrangea is a good option with many to choose from. The native deciduous azaleas are also another good choice for this setting. Weigela is a spring blooming shrub with a number of size and color of bloom choices. Many, many options other than the Knockoffs.

I agree about needing to think of the mountain setting. It’s so frustrating that when I search for mountain gardens they are all beautiful, shady, woodland gardens. Which I could easily do behind the cabin, but the full sun out front just won’t work for that.

Hmmm, what about a dwarf camellia japonica? Evergreen and flowering. When we moved in we removed 5-6 camellias that were absolutely huge and crowding into the driveway, so they do thrive in the area.

You will certainly have more luck with camellias in the Ga mountains than me in NC and there are countless camellias to choose from in size and flower.

I don't personally own any knockout roses, but I just wanted to chime in because I often pass by a house in my neighborhood that has three HUGE knockout roses flanking the side of the house. There are 2 double pink and one double red knockout. I think the side of the house is facing south, so very full sun location. Anyway, those roses flower PROFUSELY from spring all throughout the summer/early fall and based on their very large size, I'm guessing they are quite mature specimens. I actually came here to Houzz to see what people had to say about them because despite being so common, I have never seen any other shrub rose that was nearly so floriferous before! I was surprised what I read in this thread about them fading over time- that isn't something that I've noticed here in Virginia in zone 7a with clay soil. Since it seems your conditions are somewhat similar to this (zone 7a, full sun and I think clay soil in GA? (but not sure about the mountains)), I think they would be safe to try!

~Katie

I had knockout roses at my last house. They EXPLODED with blooms every summer, the hotter the better. I cut them back hard every year and they liked it.

But - I live in Missouri, farming country, zone 5b. I have no idea how they would do in the Georgia mountains.