What is a great landscape plant that will add color to my yard, too?
Knock out roses are the way to go!
These popular shrubs are lightly fragrant, free flowering from spring till late autumn, fast growing and easy to grow. They are pest and disease resistant as well. Knock out roses are every homeowner's dream - they provide beauty and color in your landscape without a lot of maintenance. It is also recognized as an All American Rose Selection plant.
Use knock outs as group plantings or even as a hedge. The foliage turns from a lustrous green to burgundy in the fall. They are fast-growing plants that will fill in nicely as a backdrop for shorter, colorful annuals and perennials. If left unpruned, this rose bush will easily grow to 3 to 5 feet wide and equally as tall. The flowers come in red and pink and a new variety this year is yellow, called "the sunny knock out." There are also double bloom knock out varieties.
Its bloom cycle of every five to six weeks will continue until the first frost, and all varieties are self cleaning, which means you do not have to deadhead to get more blooms.
They are resistant to aphids, powdery mildew and black spots, which are the scourge to most rose enthusiasts.
Plant knock outs anytime between November and April, although they are so tough you could probably plant them almost anytime of the year. Choose a well-drained site with good air circulation and deep, rich soil fortified with bone meal and hummus. These roses require a light fertilization every four to six weeks with a 10-20-10 fertilizer. Give them plenty of sunlight (at least six hours of full sun).
Knock outs will continue to thrill gardeners throughout the year, no matter their experience level. They can be purchased at local garden stores and nurseries around Northeast Georgia.
For a complete lists of knock out varieties, you can call me at the Hall County Extension office.
Wanda Cannon is a Master Gardener trained through the Hall County program and also serves as Master Gardener coordinator and horticulture assistant for the Hall County Extension office. Phone: 770-535-8293.