Are my rosebushes dead? (And my rhododendron...)

Last year I planted 3 new Jackson and Perkins roses - Joseph's Coat, Pope John Paul II, and Climbing Angel Face - along with two mini roses that were super cheap at the grocery store. The Joseph's Coat and the Angel Face seemed to thrive after I planted them last year, as did the minis; the Pope John Paul bloomed once for me, but I think I may have planted the crown too deep.

This year, the minis are very leafed out and look healthy, as are the other rosebushes that were growing in the house when I moved in two years ago. The J&P roses, however, are just brown sticks without even hints of leaf buds. Should I give up on them? I've been desperate to grow a Joseph's Coat for years, and now that I have planted one, I will be so sad if I killed it already.

On a unrelated but similar note, the rhododendron "Fantastica" that I planted last year is also showing no signs of life. The Plantfiles say it should be blooming late spring to early summer; I'm assuming that means it should at least have leaves by now? (I'm in zone 5.)

At least my bulbs came up and are healthy! :)

I never give up on anything until June and I'm in a much warmer zone than you. Depending on the microclimates in your yard and how well established your plants got before winter came could mean that some of them got hit harder by winter cold than others and they might be a bit slower to get going this spring. They could be dead of course, but I'd give them a little time yet on the chance that they're not. Even if the top part died, it's always possible you could get some new growth from the base (although if the roses were grafted, new growth from the base will be a different kind of rose than the one you bought).

As ecrane said, it is possible for your rose to come back from the roots. I've had that happen. In fact, just this year, I had my two large figs come out a in early April but my smaller one showed no signs of life at all. I thought it had given up the ghost but left it anyway. Last week it started putting out lots of new growth from the roots. I agree, give it a while and it may give you a pleasant surprise.

My rosebushes have just started to bud out, (z4) and they are a few years old. When they were new, it did take them quite a long time to emerge. One took so long, I dug it up, only to find buds underground. ( I bury mine to about 1" above the bud union, something you may want to consider to boost the hardiness.)
The same is true for my azalea, very slow to emerge the 1st spring, and don't expect blooms. Also make sure the soil drains well and is acidic. Nothing kills an azalea faster than limey clay.
edit: (or rhododendron)

This message was edited May 9, 2009 10:05 PM

This message was edited May 9, 2009 10:06 PM

trioadastra,
I hope it's okay to ask more clarifying questions about roses dead or not, I've got one that isn't looking too good. just a sturdy prickly stick to tell the truth!

when you mention above the 'bud union' what does that mean? where the branches all are joined, near the soil line?

bethanski,
had to chuckle, have dealt with ground wasps nesting underground within a climbing shrub rose, and got sick of the stings so I just dug the dumb thing up last summer and stuck the entire thing on the curb. during the summer I replanted the whole bed. NOW this spring here it comes up again, small but sturdy new growth. hope the wasps aren't there!Q

Grafted roses will have a bud union, or where the graft meets the rootstock. It usually is where all the branches are joined, near the base. Looks like a knot. If you bury it underground, the grafted rose will have a chance to grow roots of its own, increasing the chance of its survival during harsh winters. Shrub roses, like Knockout and Easy Living are on their own roots, so there is no union.

thanks, I can just picture it!@

thanks, I can just picture it!.

Burying the graft will cause the rose to revert to it's own rootstock resulting in the loss of the grafted one, mine being a beautiful Joseph Coat.

I live in Syracuse, NY and have quantity 2 4 year old rhododendrons in the shadiest part of my yard and they are completely leafed out with buds. I agree with ecrane3 that you should wait till June till you do anything. That being said they usually bloom in June in Zhone 5 so the fact they have not leafed out is concerning. Have you tried to fertilize with Miracid (Miracle grow made for acid loving plants)? That might just force some growth if the plant has survived. You may not get blooms this year if it is that far behind. Rhodies are notorious for needing very good soil and LOTS of water. So my recommendation to water thoroughly and apply Miracid and see what happens.