Hello skipit~
Roses, despite their reputation for being finicky, are pretty
straightforward to grow. Assuming your roses do not have a disease,
here's what you can do to revive them:
* Make sure they are getting enough sun (at least 6 hours a day).
* Make sure they are getting enough water--but not too much water.
About 1-2 inches per week is ideal.
* Make sure the soil drains properly. Roses don't like to sit in water
for any length of time.
* Encourage blooming by deadheading (cutting off spent blooms). Most
rose experts suggest cutting down to the first 5-leaf growth. In the
fall, stop deadheading so the rose can develop rose hips, which
encourage the plant to retain energy for winter.
* Cut off any dead branches. Also cut off "suckers," which are red
branches that sprout at the bottom of the plant and suck energy from
it.
* Amend the soil. It should be neutral or slightly acidic. (Use a soil
test kit--found at garden supply stores--to test your soil.) If your
soil doesn't meet these requirements, a quick fix is to dig a large
hole (at least 3 feet by 3 feet) and put "rose soil" in it (purchased
at a garden supply store).
* Make sure the rose is planted well. For tips on doing this, see "How
to Plant, Feed, Prune Roses:"
http://www.rosefile.com/RosePages/rcare.htm
* Roses also like to be fertilized. There are as many ways to do this
as there are gardeners, but any decent rose fertilizer should do as
long as you follow the directions. In addition many rose growers swear
by planting a banana peel under the rose, or mulching peels in to the
soil near the rose.
* Protect your roses for the winter. (See "FAQ about Roses:"
http://www.mc.edu/campus/users/nettles/rofaq/rofaq-faq.html )
If there are black spots on the rose leaves, remove them all. Also
pick up all leaves that have fallen and lie at the base of the plant,
as these will spread "black spot." See more black spot treatment ideas
at the above link, which also gives good information about treating
for powdery mildew, aphids, and more. If you're unsure whether your
roses have a disease, check out "Rose Diseases:"
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1163.html
I would not pot them and take them in for the winter. For one thing,
it will be difficult to meet a rose's requirements for light, etc.
inside. For another, I think it's unnecessary as long as you follow
the steps above.
Good luck!
Kriswrite
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