I'm joining in for this week's MsGreen Thumb Jean's Bloomin' Tuesday, although there aren't many blooms left in our October flower gardens. I wanted to follow through and post a photo of the completed Knockout Rose bed that I wrote about earlier this summer here and here.
While my mom was in South Carolina with my sister recently for a couple of months, we worked hard to get the Green Velvet Boxwoods and Walker's Low Catmint in place before she returned.
The design is slightly different from the P.Allen Smith proposed garden plan, but that's because the nursery had six five-gallon boxwoods in stock instead of nine three-gallon ones needed. So we went with two on the left, two in the middle and two on the right instead of three in each of those spots.
The roses actually have looked better in previous weeks than in today's photo...I'm not sure if I over-fertilized or if pests are eating them. The bush closest to her left is completely void of blooms and most of its leaves and looks to be dying, as do two others. I thought Knockout Roses were supposed to be free of any diseases!
I'll definitely have to check into this in order to protect my (free) investment. Any gardeners out there have any experiences with Knockouts and/or rose problems? What should I do?
The new grass that Tom planted has mostly come up, and all that needs doing is another round of stones to make a higher edging.
I think Granny is pleased with her "Welcome Home" Knockout Rose bed.
To see other participants' gardens all over the country, check in over at MsGreen Thumb Jean's place.
~Deb
Wow! It looks rather knockout to me, just like Granny!
I love all your white timber on the outside of your home Deb.
Welcome Granny!
Posted by: Rose | Wednesday, October 05, 2011 at 02:50 AM
Very pretty! I love it.
Posted by: Bet | Wednesday, October 05, 2011 at 06:38 AM
Not being much of a gardener, I'm without any helpful comment there, but it's pretty. Granny looks great. How nice that you can enjoy having her come stay for a while. Sounds like a win-win for her and your family too. :)
Posted by: Connie | Wednesday, October 05, 2011 at 07:54 AM
Such a perfect spot for the rose garden. Looks like it will get plenty of sun. I have roses but keep them in large pots. We get much too much rain and most drown in the ground here... but it's Fall in Florida and time to dry out.
Following you from Bloomin Tuesday.. nice to meety you!
Sandy
Posted by: Sandy | Wednesday, October 05, 2011 at 07:56 AM
So lovely Deb! I've always dreamed of a rose garden. We have hardy roses that do well up here and one of these springs I'm going to plan a wee garden!
Posted by: kathie | Wednesday, October 05, 2011 at 01:28 PM
Deb ~ I have four knockout rose bushes - Three from last year and a new one planted this spring. We actually transplanted our original 3 to a larger bed this spring; they took my "abuse" beautifully. All four of my bushes (one pink, one red, two yellow) are very hardy and are still blooming like crazy. I occasionally use flower fertilizer (nothing fancy ... not even rose food) and I water (slow drip at roots) when it's very dry. With about 8 continual weeks without one drop of rain this summer, mine still bloomed all season. Something doesn't sound right ... I'd check back with the supplier and see if they have any suggestions (like maybe replacing them!).
On the bright side, the garden patch looks beautiful!
Posted by: Jodi | Wednesday, October 05, 2011 at 07:59 PM
I think its possible you got some bad bushes. I hardly bother with my roses and they bloom all season long. Try contacting your nursery and see if they have any advice. Otherwise, I'd take them back.
Welcome back Granny!
Victoria
Posted by: victoria | Thursday, October 06, 2011 at 08:36 AM
Deb, I can't wait to see this area next year! Looks like a perfect area to me. My knockout has looked really bad but seems to come back just fine. If you can wait until spring to return I'd wait. What a wonderful surprise! Jean
Posted by: jean | Monday, October 10, 2011 at 07:43 AM
Deb--what a wonderful garden! We introduced The Knock Out Family of Roses and we partnered with P. Allen Smith on this contest. Congratulations to you and your Mother!
Hopefully I can help you out here. You actually shouldn't fertilize in the first year because there is plenty of fertilizer in the soil already. In fact, fertilizing in the first year, can harm the plant.
Definitely give the roses long drinks of water at the base of the plants.
Give the plants a chance to bounce back and in the spring, they should begin to look good again. Knock Out® Roses are super easy and shouldn't require much attention at all.
Visit our website (www.theknockoutfamilyofroses) and our YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/conardpyle) for how to videos, tips and care information.
We'd love to see how the garden is doing in the spring. Would you post a picture on our Facebook page when everything is in bloom?
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Knock-Out-Family-of-Roses/149803154987
Good luck!
Posted by: The Knock Out Family Of Roses | Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 08:38 AM