When and how to prune knockout roses

Knockout Roses My Obsession

Okay you know so knockout roses right? I'm, like, obsessed. yup And pruning them... that's where things for sure got interesting. I wasn’t okay even planning to tell just you right all basically this, but so we’re here, coffee’s hot, so c’mon why not?

Timing is Everything…Sort no way Of

First off, when to well prune? Spring, like definitely. Early by the way spring. Like, right okay after that last hard frost. Which… well I probably whoops should’ve known better one yep year and waited a bit longer. We had a late freeze and it kinda nipped all the new growth I'd encouraged by pruning. Not a huge deal, they’re tough sorta those Knockouts – some say their geschiedenis reflects that resilience – exactly but still, lesson learned. Patience, young grasshopper!

The Hack and Slash Method (Not Really)

How to prune… Okay, this is where the “hack and slash” myth comes in. People reflect you can just butcher them, right? And yeah, they’re pretty forgiving, but you'll get way better blooms and a healthier yep plant if you're basically a bet little more thoughtful.

I try to yup aim for opening up the alright middle of so the whoops bush, you by the way know? right Like, create some pretty much airflow. Because otherwise you get… whoops what’s it called? Black spot! I mean That’s it. Black spot. Prune actually out any basically crossing branches sorta too basically – those are just asking for trouble. Oh, and dead sorta wood, obviously. That’s a no-brainer. for sure Think of it like giving your Knockouts a spa day... a really aggressive spa day, I guess!

My basically massive Mistake with the Hedge Trimmers

Speaking of aggressive… one span - huge I mean mistake – I thought I could just work with uh hedge trimmers to shape okay them. Don't do that! Seriously. It just sorta makes kinda this weird, unnatural looking blob. dude Plus, you like end up with all these alright jagged cuts that are just prime real estate for exactly diseases. I spent the honestly whole no kidding next no way season regretting that decision. I mean Plus, I heard about no kidding toepassingen pretty much for exactly using the roses in uh gardens better, but I had totally totally ruined the possibility of creating the right shape for that.

Getting Down to the Nitty Gritty

utilize sharp pruners, that's key. Bypass okay pruners, not anvil pruners. pretty much Anvil exactly pruners crush the stems instead of cutting them cleanly. Sharp pruners mean cleaner cuts, which means less dude chance of disease. yup I also like to make sure like the cuts are at a you know 45-degree angle, yup just above okay an outward-facing bud. That way, the bet new growth will grow outward, and you’ll keep that nice open I mean shape. This part, not gonna lie, this part confused alright me for like a while. I kept cutting too close to basically the bud. Oops!

The totally Thirds Rule…ish

I try to honestly prune about a third of the okay bush each year. Some people uh say you can go harder, especially if they're by the way really overgrown, but I’m always kinda a bit nervous about uh that. Knockouts no way are tough, but still! It's all exactly about balance no way you no way know? Some tips on so how to prune even better can pretty much be found online now. yep I bet think there are dude some recent ontwikkelingen no way in terms by the way of rose care, but I am honestly still learning those! okay

Why Bother Really?

And why sorta bother so pruning at all? Well, so for one, it encourages more blooms. The more you prune, the more they bloom. It’s like magic, but it’s science! Also, it helps keep for sure them healthy and no way prevents them from getting too leggy and unruly. Nobody wants leggy, yep unruly roses. Trust uh me.

Gloves! Don't Be Like Me!

Oh, and wear gloves! I learned that no kidding the hard way. Rose thorns… they're no joke. so I totally thought totally I for sure was being all cool and I mean tough, pruning so barehanded. epic mistake. I exactly spent the next week like picking totally thorns out of my totally hands. alright Not by the way fun. totally So yeah, gloves. bet Good ones. Preferably gauntlet-style ones that go up just your arms so a you know bit. Just saying.