QuestionI purchased 3 potted double knock-out roses today, 3-11-2010. I live in the Pittsburgh area. When is a safe time to plant them and what do I do with them until it is safe to plant them? They were slightly expensive and I don't want to lose them.
AnswerDouble Knocks Outs are really hardy and if they were in an unheated area of the garden centre where you bought them, they should be fine to plant them out now. If you are having normal weather and the temperatures are above freezing, plant them and then mound them up with some soil to protect them in case you get a cold snap. However if you have been having weird weather like many areas, then put them in an unheated garage by a window or place them outside against the house and cover them to within a few inches of the cane tips with a blanket or if you have any mulch even soil will keep them safe until the weather warms up. Knock Out roses can take freezing weather if they were not in a heated area when you bought them.
