I have 21 knock out roses. All pink and red with one yellow one. I thought I would try this one this year. All roses are doing great except yellow one. I'm thinking it might not be as hardy as the other colors. I have removed all dead leaves and cut it back because whole bush was very sick looking. I have treated this bush like my other 20 and I just can't understand why it is dying. I always fertilize ,dead head,and water at base only. Please help! Ready to just dig it up! It looks like a sore thumb sticking out around my other beautiful roses Robin in Maryland

"Hardy" usually refers to the ability to withstand cold temperatures. Since you're writing in mid-July I'm thinking you mean it's not as vigorous. Please give more information on what you mean by this - eg. is it not flowering as well as the others (remember it's only a first year planting; how old are your other knock outs?) You mention dead leaves - were they yellowing, black-spotted, crispy, what? Is it planted in the same conditions as your pinks and reds? Sunny Knock Out has been a bloom machine for me in zone 6B so I'm curious about what you're experiencing and will try to help if you can post more info. -Maeve

Yes, it is planted in same conditions as others which were just planted this year also. They were all pretty nice sized in the 5 gallon pot. So they weren't little cheaper ones. Red and pinks just went to town. Sunny is yellow and crinkled leaves. I've removed so much of the leaves that were horrible looking that I'm pretty much left with a bunch of stems. It almost looks fried, but just don't understand what's happening. They are in a partly sunny area with about 5-6 hrs sun daily. Very frustrating. I have receipt so might take it back to nursery.

I'm glad I didn't dig it up. After pruning heavy and removing all dead leaves(which was basically whole plant), I'm noticing nice green growth appearing. It must have just needed a little TLC. I think it might make it. !!!!!

Just logged on for the first time in a few days and saw your update - great!  Sunny is my favorite of the knockouts, glad it's coming back for you.

I have a rainbow Knock Out rose bush that is new this year.  I have 2 other varieties of rose bushes but I though the Knock Out would be easier to care for.  I am in zone 5 and the plant was in a 5 gal pot.  I don't know if it needs a year to really get established, but it looks awfull!  It is blooming and green, however, the old blooms are shrivelled and faded.  I thought no pruning was needed for these plants, am I wrong?  Thanks!

If it is blooming and green, it's healthy.  Old blooms are going to fade and shrivel; they don't last forever. You don't NEED to dead-head knockouts, but they look better and rebloom faster if you do.  You can just do this with hedge shears if you want to; no need to dead-head individually like you do with hybrid teas. -Maeve

Thanks for your responce.  I guess when it gets bigger it will look better.  I also enjoy pruning... so I am glad I can do that and not hurt the plant.  Thanks again!!!

Hello, yes Samodeo, Maevesgarden is correct.  I have several knockout roses, 2 yellow and about 10  red or pink knockout rose bushes.  You can do the work yourself and prune them, however, you do not have to. If you are patient they are self  sustaining.  It does  take time for the old blooms to dry and  fall off. To me the show is worth the wait.  Next year yours will look better.  But the third year seems to be the charm.  Enjoy!

Thank you Mavesgarden and nshearin... I am looking forward to see what happens!

I am a volunteer gardner at the Vistariahurst n Holyoke, MA and the pink knock out's are the ones that are not doing good.

If you haven't already go ahead and dig once it is not freezing there. ( I see it's from July.)  I dug several of mine up last summer before ot got too hot here on the west coast and found a wire worm type thing chewing off my roots which was causing the same trouble.  connie

OOps should have read down farther.  I still dig mine up when it looks like trouble courtesy of that blooming bug.  Yes I am a rose person!  and yeah I looked for the usual fungus problems including my favorite.. downy mildew.  Glad to see you plant bounced back.  My sunny   looked better than my red or p[ink ones.  my rainbow knockout was SPECTACULAR!!!! this year. connie