Protecting Knock Out Roses

Knock Out Roses by hozn

TheGardenLady received this question from Sharon.

I live in Southern, MA. My knockout roses became overgrown this year so I cut them way back today. Do I need to protect them since they are cut down to about 1 ft high?

Spring is the time to prune your shrub roses- they say to prune when the forsythia is in bloom. The best time for rose pruning in your area should be in March after there are no more snow storms.

But you already did the pruning, so let us be optimistic. TheGardenLady believes that plants want to live. So let us hope no damage is done. TheGardenLady would protect these pruned roses as described in the post on Nov. 6th. And review the article on Nov. 28th, 2007 about winter care for Knock Out Roses.

Don’t agonize over your mistake. TheGardenLady believes one cannot learn without making mistakes. Many great discoveries were what seemed like mistakes when they first occurred. Hugh White(1773-1840) said, “When you make a mistake, don’t look back at it long. Take the reason of the thing into your mind and then look forward. Mistakes are lessons of wisdom. The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power.” and James Joyce said “Mistakes are the portals of discovery.”

TheGardenLady hopes your Knock-out roses survive and thrive.

Let TheGardenLady readers know in the spring if the roses lived and what you did to help them through the winter.

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