Beginner Gardening: Shrub questions, 1 by GumbootGal

GumbootGal wrote:
Hi. I am in Canada and still have a foot of snow in some parts of my yard. I found on this site I will have to re-register for outdoor plants, but maybe some one can help me. I moved into this place last fall and did see the roses and lilac bush in the prior spring as my boyfriend ownes this yard. I live here now and want to help these poor things. The rose bushes had pretty thick pink flowers not like a bouquet you but in the store just bud like but full open flowers. I know they could produce more and be fuller..whayt do I do to get these. It is pretty early as we have NO green anything yet, still goes below 0 at night, but I am jumping the gumn and want to know if I should cut them right down, or trim them? Also a HUGE lilac bush with TONS of suckers. I do work in the forest industry with Trees and know suckers take away from the main tree, does this also go for lilacs? I have pictures but can not post them all. Please mail me if you think you can help and I will send the sad sorry pictures to you. Oh I have not raked or touched then yet so don't be too disgusted. I want them to be BEAUTIFUL!! HELP!! Oh yah the dog pee'd on them all winter I am sure...!!! ??? well there was 5 feet of snow around them so I do not know if they got damaged. crobertson74@hotmail.com with roses in the subject..Thanks!