Question
QUESTION: I was unable to cut my rose bush back for winter, so i waited until spring when it was warm and turned green and i trimmed off the dead pieces.  then 3 weeks after I trimmed we had 2 weeks of winter like weather.  Now it's back to normal spring weather running in 60-80's and the new growth is weeping and breaking off, and some of the large main stems are brown and black.  is my bush dead for the season? do i need to prune it?
i'm not really sure what to do with it.   

Thank you
ANSWER: This weather has been absolute torture on Roses.  But its effect has been even worse on the people who grow them.  The agita, the angst, the aggravation that comes over a person who dodges bullet after bullet in the garden, only to have a final Act Of God come out of nowhere and ruin everything.  Shanna, I feel your pain.

But... not to worry!

My guess -- my best guess, and I would put money on this, although I cannot see your Rose, but based on your description of events and the damage, I have faith that this Rose is going to recover.

It takes a lot to wipe out a Rosebush, Shanna.

Think about those little boxed Jackson and Perkins Rosebushes for sale around the garden center.  Remember how short and stubby these were?

Roses don't need much to recover and move on.  They are real experts at that.

Short term growth of course is definitely going to be compromised.  But I'll bet even the blooms won't be delayed.  They are SO resilient!

Remove the dead growth, seal wounds with Elmer's Glue, mulch or topdress with manure or some other super duper material, and relax.  As soon as growth seems to be stirring (sorry, I'm not clear on whether this has happened yet), fertilize with a first rate Rose Food.

Next thing you know, you'll be writing to me about the attack of the Blackspot and Mildew.

If any more whacky weather descends, however, do me a favor.  Cover your Rose top to bottom in a black plastic bag for the night.  A black bag will probably protect the delicate new tissue and buds.

Feel better?

I hope so.  Please let me know how things are going.  We can adjust if needed.  Thanks for writing.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So I have a question to add to this.  I trimmed the dead off,  now that it's warm and likely to stay that way, but my stems are black, and they fade from green to black to some brown, is the rose still coming out of the cold or is it a fungus?  Do I trim off all the black and dark areas or leave it

Answer
You did not mention where you writing from, Shanna, so I'm reluctant to say this could be Rust.

But...

Rust is a common Rose disease with very similar symptoms to yours.  Ruddy, orange spots dot leaf surfaces and occasionally stems as well.  Badly struck Roses lose all their leaves.  This disease is most active during cool, wet weather -- but also occurs on Roses in Arizona abd California.

If so, keep the leaves dry and remove all the leaves with any sign of disease.  Soaker hoses are a great way to do this.  Spray with a Copper Fungicide (very carefully) and next time with Baking Soda before symptoms appear.  Problem solved.

Thanks for writing.