Question
Hi we live in St. Louis,Missouri.  My Mother has new knockout roses that are only a couple months old and were beautiful.  Now they are yellowing and thinning from the bottom up.  We feel they are watered enough, but I am worried she put too much fertilizer on them.  It was a Miracle grow, Time-released caps, about 4 weeks ago.  Could it be something else?  Do you know of any home remedies for roses that include vinegar and water mixture?  That sounds silly, but her neighbors are trying to help.  
Thanks for any help.  
Sandy

Answer
Miracle Gro is one of the best rose fertilizers so that shouldn't have caused any problems. Often when you buy arose, it has been flooded with water and fertilizer to make it grow big with thick canes. Then when you plant it the rose goes back to growing like it does naturally. From what I have seen, Knockout roses don't have thick canes on them and they tend to bend over at the tops of the growth. This is a rose that benefts from being pruned hard every spring. The best way to prune this rose is to cut out all the twiggy type growth and leave just the thickest canes. This will make the rose healthier and stronger. I know the books tell you that Knockout only grows to 3 feet but if it is treated well it can get to 5 feet.

MILDEW & BLACK SPOT SPRAY
8 cups of water
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon Canola oil
Hose off rose leaves in the morning to get rid of dust and pollution and then apply daily for mildew, weekly for black spot. Stops spores from germinating

ORGANIC BUG & FUNGUS SPRAY
1 tablespoon Canola oil
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 quart water
add a few drops dish soap
Works mainly on insects that are eating the leaves

SUPER ALFALFA FERTILIZER
1 large garbage can of water
25 cups alfalfa pellets
1 cup 20-20-20
2 cups Epson Salts
2 cups fish emulsion
1 quart per rose every month
Hold nose when stirring!
Hope this helps.