There's a large curbside planting of Knockouts at my workplace (1-2 year-old transplants that grew and flowered vigorously last year).

At least half of them have produced no growth so far this spring. The rest are growing but generally have fewer shoots/progressing more slowly than last year. Apparently the hard winter has set them back and possibly killed some plants.

Hi,

I noticed the very same thing with my rose bushes.I see no sign of life at all including no buds.I'm in the cleveland area.I'm just patiently waiting.
Ivy2003,

The winter played havoc on all of my roses, especially the Knockouts.

I had 6-7 foot tall (and around) plants which I had to cut to the ground to get rid of all of the DEAD wood.

Your knockouts will, likely, grow back from the ground level, but you've got to get rid of the deadwood.

South Eastern Ohio. My 3 Knock Out Roses are alive but with few blooms. Cut them back hard this spring. Will see what happens next spring.

I lost 6 very large red knockout! Took me ages to dig them out, but they are now replaced --- fingers crossed. My neighbors were mortified when the roses died. They had a better view of them than I (^J^)

My knockouts looked terrible.....zero growth on 6 ft tall plants. They have thrived for 10 yrs! I cut them back to the ground, and by July, they had recovered and are now 4feet tall and wide, full of blossoms, and they look great! Yay! Last winter was brutal-hoping am nature takes it easy on us this winter!