We have landscape designer that can come to your house and help you identity your plants as well as how to care for them. There is a fee for that, but you also receive a coupon with payment that helps you recoup your cost.

Another way is to take pictures of your plants and either email them to us, or print them out and bring them to the store for us to identify the plants for you, as well as tips to help you care for them.

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Knock Out® Roses were developed to be exceptionally easy to care for and that includes winterizing. Knock Out® Roses are cold hardy to zone 5a, where winter temperatures can dip down to –10 to –15 degrees F. Here in St. Louis we are 5b-6a.

In this area, you don't need to take any extra steps to care for your Knock Out® roses in winter. After the ground freezes a thick layer of mulch around the base, but not up against the canes, will keep the ground temperature even and prevent the roots from heaving. This happens when the ground goes through multiple freezes and thaws.

Depending on spring weather conditions, remove protective materials before the buds break open, normally in late March to mid-April.

Prune your Knock Out® roses in late winter or early spring, while the plant is still dormant. Remove any dead or damaged wood, do a little shaping if necessary, and take out some of the interior stems to improve air circulation. Every 2 or 3 years remove about one third of the old branches to stimulate new, fresh growth. If you are trying to keep the roses at a certain height, you can cut them back hard with hedge shears. No need to worry about usual rose pruning rule of cutting back to an outward facing leaf bud - just lop them down to the desired size. Knock Out® Roses spring back beautifully after being cut down to 6-inches.

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I would look at the area where your containers are and choose plants well suited for that area, and your lifestyle. We can help you choose the best combination of plants for both. Other factors can include light requirements of the plants, watering and fertilizer.

Assuming insects and diseases are not a factor, here are some general guidelines to go by:

Every plant performs best when placed within its light requirements. There are plants for every light situation from deep shade to full sun. When you are thinking of buying plants for an area, watch how the light flows in that area. Is it sunny in the morning, but deep in shade by noon, or just the opposite? It can make a difference in the plants we suggest for you.

Unlike plants in the ground, nutrients are being washed away with each watering. So fertilizing on a regular basis is a must. Time released fertilizers work very well, but even they should be replenished by the middle of summer. Choose the type of fertilizer that works best for you. Are you someone who likes to fertilize each time you water, or are you more of a---do it once and then don’t have to worry about for awhile (like me!) type of person?

Also, watering is crucial. The type and size of the container, soil used, site of the container, sun, wind, temperature and humidity as well as the plants themselves, all vary the watering needs of the container. A single missed watering may have dramatic effects on the plants. There are also soil amendments that can be used to help hold moisture and then release it as needed. Some containers will need watering every other day or so, or some may need to be watered more than once a day. When you first get your container home or planted, check for watering at least once a day, and then establish a pattern from there, allowing adjustments as the season progresses and the plants grow.

When you do water; water well. Frequent small watering will not reach the bottom and inner soil and your plants may fail to thrive. Over-watering can also be an issue. Make sure that your container is able to drain away excess water.

Containers can make a big difference in how your plants perform. A small terra cotta or moss planter will need frequent attention. Whereas a larger, plastic or ceramic planter will allow you more options and also may not need to be watered every day.

That was a lot of information to take in. Again, we are always here to help you with your choices. We want you to be successful, so let us help. Pictures of the site can be very helpful.

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Just let us know what plant you would like, if we are able, we will order the plant for you.

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