Question
I have two double knockout rose bushes, planted two summers ago. I live in CT, and one is thriving, but the other one looks dead. The leaves are full of holes, they bush is all brown, there are two or three new rose buds on it, but that's it. I am dilligent with caring for them, is there any way I can bring it back?

Answer
Check by scratching the cans to see if there is any green showing under the outside bark. This way you will know if it it alive or just using the moisture left in the dead canes to grow on. What I do when I think a rose is dead and there is little hope, I cut it right down to about 2 to 3 inches, scatter some fertilizer all around the base, water it well so it never dries out and many times the rose will push out new canes in a few weeks and start all over again. It is certainly worth a try.