Question
my knock out roses have gotten long and spinnly, not like the small compact bushes I planted last year.  They are still blooming and showing new growth but only at the top.  We live in Alabama (Tuscaloosa) near Birmingham. How can I prune them and keep them compact and when to prune?

Answer
If your roses are getting too long and spindly you might be too kind with the fertilizer as this will make them push out tall canes. Prune them back hard by simply cutting right across the whole bush down to about 18 inches. This will make them bush out and you will have a more denser bush. Do this every spring if you need to but not so far down. Knock Out roses don't need lots of food so I would only fertilize them in the spring and in the middle of the summer. Lots of food will make them tall and thin.