Knockout Rose Hedge Shearing

by Nathan
(York, PA (zone 6A))

I have a row of Knockout Roses acting as a hedge along a retaining wall. The all seem to be doing well. However, they don't form a uniform look (ie: some are taller/wider than others). So I was wondering if it is appropriate to use shears to make them look uniform (both in width and height). If so, any hints before I start *hacking* away?

Doug says that yes indeed it is appropriate to whack a Knockout Rose hedge into shape (it's appropriate to whack any plant hedge into shape)

Do it early in the season before the buds start to grow (or grow too much). You don't want a plant putting energy into growth you're about to cut off.

Then shear to shape (roughly).

Then if they were mine - I'd go back over the hedge (if it was a short one) and take off any shoots that were too long past a bud. In other words, find those "obvious" examples where there's a cane and no bud close to the tip of the cane. The tips of the canes will die back to the bud and you may wind up with a lot to dieback on those tips that "could" be unsightly until the new growth outgrows the end.

This is one of those "maybe" things that's hard to describe. In a long hedge, I probably (realistically) wouldn't spend a lot of time cleaning up the pruning job because it would be a lot of work for a small benefit. In a smaller garden with a closer view of the hedge, I'd probably spend more time cleaning up the plants both for the look of them and the overall health of them. In larger hedges, you're going to be pruning them hard almost every year anyway so this becomes less of a problem. It's a judgment call thing - got the time, clean up the whacking-pruning. Not got the time - pick up the clippings, feed 'em and water 'em and enjoy the blooms.

Treat them like any other hedge.