- A Double Knock Out tree rose features numerous clusters of 1.5-inch red blooms with 26 to 40 petals apiece. The plants are bred to be hardy as well as pest and disease resistant, especially to blackspot, a fungal ailment. Knock Out roses have little or no scent but flower prolifically throughout the growing season. The bushy growth habit makes them good candidates for training as tree roses.
- Like all roses, Double Knock Outs need a dormant period during the winter months each year. In late fall, the leaves will drop and the canes may appear lifeless. If you bend a branch during this period, you will find that it is flexible and if you cut a branch, the wood will be green. You will know your tree rose has survived the winter months when the buds begin to swell in early spring.
- Tree roses, because of their grafted nature, may be somewhat less hardy than regular roses. To maximize the rose's chances of survival in cold winter areas, plant where the tree rose will be protected from cold winds. In the late fall, prune the rose, and plant tall, sturdy stakes on either side of it. Wind burlap around the stakes so the entire tree rose is completely enclosed. Secure the burlap with string or staples, and fill the space around the tree rose with shredded leaves, hay or other organic material.
- If you grow your Double Knock Out tree rose in a pot, it can be winterized in a minimally heated cellar or garage where the temperature will remain around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Water occasionally to keep soil moist. Tree roses can also be buried, pot and all, in a shallow trench. Turn the pot and rose on its side, place in the trench, and cover with soil topped with mulch or hay.
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