How to Dead Head Knockout Roses
- 1). Inspect the knockout rose bush for wilting blooms. Knockout roses go through a flowering cycle every five to six weeks, so checking the bush once a month is usually sufficient.
- 2). Cut the spent flower off on the stem right behind the flower head with a pair of shears. Dispose of or compost the removed flowers after deadheading.
- 3). Trim off any dead or damaged leaves and stems while you are deadheading, as you are more likely to notice these while you are trimming. Cut leaves off where they join the stem and trim off dead or damaged stems ½ inch beneath the nearest healthy wood.