Question
I live in Summerville SC and planted 4 knockout roses in April.  They do bloom, but they seem to kind of lay on the ground, instead of growing bushlike.  Two of them have leaves that have turned yellow and fallen off.  I have fed them twice since planting and water consistently.  Any idea on what I am doing wrong?

Thank you.

Answer
Roses always go under stress when first planted because the location is different from there they had been. So they do require an extra amount of water the first season. If they don't get water right down to the roots then they will wilt and then start to dropping their yellow leaves. You are not doing anything wrong many gardeners feel they have watered their roses very well only to find that at this time of year the soil acts like blotting paper and stops the moisture from getting down deep enough. Take a hose and make circles with it all around the rose bush. Just water the daylights out of the roses. Do this daily until you see them starting to straighten up. Don't give them any more fertilizer this season as they now have enough but need lots of water. If the weather is turning hot, then that will also cause what you describe but again water is the answer. The roses won't die they will just be set back this summer but this fall or next spring will bounce back like normal