When is a rose bush truly dead?

I have two rose bushes in my backyard, one that is an old fogey and another one that just sprouted up underneath it this year. Both appear to be dead - there is no new growth anywhere, the new one is shriveled and brown and the old one appears brittle and grey.





I am wondering, though, is there any chance, if I remove the new one and simply cut the old one back, that it will come back to life? Or should I just uproot the whole thing and re-plant?





I am in Phoenix, if that makes any difference.

When is a rose bush truly dead?
Have you try taking your finger nail and scape the bark? If it's green the bush is still alive.If not take it out it's dead.
Reply:cut a small branch off and if it's still green inside the bush is still alive.
Reply:If one sprouted up underneath it I think the graft part is lost and it has gone back to it's wild state. I had that happen once and had to remove both of them. Wow! Phoenix and growing roses. Good for you. I can't even grow them in Philly.
Reply:With fall coming on you may try covering with leaves or mulch. Then around February cutting back, heavy prune and, then in March uncover and see if anything come up.
Reply:If you see no new growth in spring (or whenever your beginnning of growing season is in Pheonix), get rid of it. But make sure you give it time to see if buds or shoots come out. The new shoots usually start as a redddish color. If there is dry, dead wood under the bark, dig it up and replant a new one.

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