how far back can you prune knockout roses
Knockout roses are a type of shrub rose that can be pruned quite heavily to maintain their shape and promote new growth. The extent to which you can prune back knockout roses depends on the time of year and the desired outcome.
General Pruning Guidelines:
- Late Winter or Early Spring: You can prune knockout roses back by about one-third to one-half of their height in late winter or early spring, typically around February or March, depending on your location. This will help control the size of the plant and encourage new growth.
- Summer Pruning: During the growing season, you can prune knockout roses back by about one-quarter to one-third of their height to maintain their shape and promote new blooms.
- Renewal Pruning: If your knockout roses have become overgrown or leggy, you can prune them back more severely, cutting them down to about 12-18 inches from the ground. This is called renewal pruning, and it’s best done in late winter or early spring.
Important Notes:
- Always make clean cuts just above a bud eye (the small swelling on the stem from which new growth emerges).
- Remove any dead, diseased, or damaged wood to prevent the spread of disease and encourage healthy growth.
- Prune in a way that maintains the plant’s natural shape and promotes air circulation to prevent disease.
How Far Back Can You Prune?
While knockout roses can be pruned back quite heavily, it’s generally not recommended to prune them back more than 75% of their height. Pruning too much can stress the plant and lead to disease or pest issues.
If you need to prune your knockout roses back severely, it’s best to do so in stages, pruning them back by about one-third to one-half of their height at a time, and then waiting a few months to prune them back further if needed.
Remember to always prune your knockout roses with clean, sharp tools and make cuts at a 45-degree angle to promote healthy growth and prevent water from collecting on the cut ends.
