Question
Dear Lynnette:

     I live near Buffalo, New York.  I have wild white rose bushes at least 100 feet down my property line.
      Last week, I notice that my neighbor cut a huge pine tree (at least 25 feet tall).  That pine tree landed on top of my wild rose bushes.  I'm so sick about it.  It is still there.  

    Will my rose bushes survive.  I'm so afraid they won't.  And, what can I do when the tree is finally removed to help the growth of all of them?

    Thanks,    Karen

Answer
Wild roses are not like the modern bred roses in that they cane take far more abuse. I am assuming that it is cold where you are and that the roses are dormant. This is what will save them. When they take the tree away that is the time to prune your roses. Cut out all broken or damaged canes. Never mind if you have to cut them to the base this will encourage new canes to come from there. Be stern and don't leave any bashed canes as disease can get into them. Don't worry if the whole area looks like many short sticks as your roses will come back. Take handfuls of any type of rose fertilizer and sprinkle it over the newly cut canes. I would give them another sprinkle after they have finished flowering. Wild roses usually bloom on old wood so that means you may not get many blooms this year but next year you will get lots. In case the pine killer doesn't remove the fallen tree, go and take cuttings about 8 inches from the tips of the canes, put them into vermiculite or any type of mix to start seeds in, and you will start your own wild roses again. Just keep in mind that wild roses are VERY hard to totally kill as they have underground runners which will start a new bush again. Hope this helps.