Q: I have read your recommendation of ‘Knock Out’ rose but didn’t find anything on the proper way to deadhead them. How do you do it?

A: ‘Knock Out’ rose is a plant I can wholeheartedly recommend to any gardener. It blooms so heavily, it is so pest resistant and it is so tough, hardly anyone has a bad experience with it. I get deep red blooms from April until October. ‘Double Knock Out’, ‘Blushing Knock Out’ and ‘Pink Knock Out’ are also on the market.

‘Knock Out’ blooms continuously if the faded blooms are removed regularly. I visit mine every week and twist off the old buds. Every four weeks I cut long stems back by half. This two-step process keeps new growth coming and removes the hormone-filled hips that tell the rose to bloom more slowly.