About my Japanese Maple and Knock-Out roses?

Question

I have a Japanese Maple in my front landscaping surrounded by knock-out roses. The maple is dwarfed by them and I fear the roses are sapping nutrients from the maple.

Should I pull up the roses?

Answer 1

I prefer roses in a dedicated rose bed.

A classical bed has a sub-scale tree, evergreens for the winter, small scale flowering shrubs, bulbs, and annuals. Can you move the Maple? Otherwise, you may have to pull the roses and relocate.

Answer 2

Don't just pull them up.  Dig them out and plant them somewhere else.  The maple needs all the nutrients it can get.  Knockout roses need full sun.  Space them about 4 feet apart so they have room to grow without growing into each other.    

Answer 3

My first question is were they all planted at the same time?  If yes, I would move the plants that require FULL sun i.e. the roses and leave the Maple if it gets part sun where it is.  Landscapers are great for putting things together "at the moment" that look good.  But they never seem to plant for future growth.  Your roses will get about 4 feet tall and almost as wide depending on where you live.  They make a beautiful hedge, they bloom all season long as long as they get FULL sun, that is 6 hours or more.  So plant them together about 5 feet apart so they can grow together but not over crowd.  Dig them up with a large ball surrounding them, and Fall is the best time to do this.  Depending on wher you live you can do this safely from September to October.  Water them in well and frequently, roses like water, and get them established for winter.  Then Octoberish mulch them high to protect the young roots and you should be fine.  It is a fun project, don't be afraid to dig a little!!! You will be glad you moved them!

Answer 4

agree with move the roses, leave the maple where it is.... J. maples don't move well at all..... if it's growing happy, it should stay put.... if it's leaves are fried and crispy, it's getting too much sun, or the roses took all the water!.... once they're gone, you may see new growth on the tree....YAY!....

as for the roses, they're tough plants and will react from the move, but recover before fall nicely.... see that their moisture requirements are met thru fall.... don't fertilize until spring....