I'm thinking I'm going to prune it down. Might take a year for it to rebound, but hopefully then, it'll be healthy again.

Probably cut back anything that is black or brown. Cut back to green growth. In about a month or so, it will probably start putting out some nice green growth in addition to what you see now.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Kate

Do as Kate said and take off all those black tips down to where they are leafing out. Leave about a 1/4 inch above where they are leafing. Anything that isn't starting to leaf out and is black can be taken off completely back to the crown. If it's green wait and see if it leafs out before removing it. Then keep it watered and be patient. It's growing roots so it can then start to grow top growth.

This is the issue with bare roots, even ones that look great to start. They can start to die back before they 'take off'. Cut down to where you see new growth or healthy looking white pith. I've had some where I've had to cut all the canes down to one inch. I'd put it in a pot and baby it for awhile. I'm thinking of potting up all my bare roots before planting them from now on.

Did you water it everyday?

Thanks everyone!

summersrhythm, I watered it every other day for the first week.

As for the soil mixture, it contains about;

30% Peat Moss

20% Sand

30% Top Soil

20% Compost/Manure.

Scott, The peat moss and sand won't hold water, that's 50% of your soil, I water mine (50+ bare root roses this Spring) every day, I have 100% clay soil. You might need to water it more often. :-)

I thought peat moss could hold up to something like 15x it's weight in water? I know sand holds no water, and was added purely for drainage purposes. I have about 50+ Oriental Lilies in the raised bed also.

I'll water the roses every day if need to (didn't want to over water them). Thanks!

The peat soaks it up; the plant doesn't get it. I worked in a garden center, and I never recommended peat as a soil amendment for water lovers.

I think so.....

Sam from ADK is a soil guy, I hope he can tell you more on how to fix your soil.

Pruned it down to new growth! Some of it had to go back down to the center knob.

Thanks!

That was one of my fears about peat moss, but I wetted the mixture before mixing it with the top soil, sand, and compost manure.

I'm thinking of getting a RapiTest kit, or calling my local county soil and conservation branch to see if they can do a soil test.