What’s safest way to trim knockout roses and Rose of Sharon, how far back should they go, and when?

Right now, it is a good time to trim both those plants. The Rose of Sharon, we’re generally just shaping up and trimming for shape. If you’ve got any wild branches that have grown up beyond the rest of the body of the plant, we’re going to tighten that plant back up this time of year.

Roses, same thing. I trimmed mine up when I did my hydrangeas. We want to make sure that the stems are alive. I just shaped the canes up and made sure the actual body of the stems was about the same size. Any of the all-brown stems that weren’t green underneath, those I trimmed out of the plant because the deadwood is never going to do you any advantages by leaving it on the plant. It just blocks sunlight and moisture and attracts insects, so it’s better to get those dead stems, if there are any dead stems, cut out of the plant. Then you trim it for shape.

Here at the beginning of April, we’re going to start talking about fertilizing, and we use the all-season fertilizer on almost everything here at the nursery. It’s a six-month slow release, and so it’ll give the plant the nutrition it needs for the entire growing season by only having to apply it once. Once you trim anything back, especially aggressively, get that fertilizer on so it can have an easier time producing flowers and new growth.

Pick up some our all-season fertilizer at either of our locations to jump start your plants this season!

Questions? Email us at [email protected] or call one of our two locations: Portage (330-499-0101) or Everhard (330-492-1243).