The rose may be an icon, but it often gets a bad reputation as a plant that demands a lot of care. In reality, many roses are landscape-worthy shrubs that don’t require constant devotion. Some of the ...

Understanding the Context

Roses are among the oldest flowers in cultivation, although many have earned a reputation as fussy or difficult to grow. Some of the newer shrub rose hybrids, however, are disease-resistant, carefree ... Q: How far back can I cut my 'Knock Out' shrub rose? It got way too tall last year.

Key Insights

Also, I want to cut back a 'Diana' rose-of-sharon. It's too big for my perennial border. A: 'Knock Out' roses (my ... The end of the summer and early fall can be a very special time for a certain heirloom shrub, the Confederate rose (Hibiscus mutabilis). The charming flowers are quite unique in that some varieties ...

Final Thoughts

Nordot on MSN: Alan Titchmarsh swears by this simple pruning rule to set up your shrub roses for summer – do it before it's too late As British gardens gear up for summer, Alan Titchmarsh reveals a quick way to prune shrub roses now for richer blooms. Which simple cuts make the difference? Roses sit at the heart of many British ... Alan Titchmarsh swears by this simple pruning rule to set up your shrub roses for summer – do it before it's too late A rose of Sharon shrub in New York. Not related to rose, rose of Sharon is a tough shrub that bears colorful blossoms, they look like hibiscus blossoms, even under urban conditions. Credit: Lee Reich ...