What Cecily said - NO more cutting! Get a fungicide and spray it. Then, when it leafs out and starts to grow, follow the instructions on the fungicide about how often to spray.

Jackie

What did the leaves look like? Did they have fuzzy edged black spots on them, turn yellow, and then drop off?

Black spot mostly affects the leaves, not the canes. I mean it does affect the canes, but not really enough to require them to be cut back. Don't cut the canes any more for goodness sake. And pick up a book or read a few articles on rose care. I'm not sure if what you are referring to is indeed black spot or if you are concerned about something else that is affecting your canes that we cannot see in the photos. But if the leaves get black spot and they fall off, there is no need to cut the canes. You are doing a lot of damage to an already weakened rose by doing that. There are many quick and easy books and websites on basic rose cares (even pamphlets) that will help you get started. pick up a few and you'll be well on your way, but please don't cut this poor rose back any more.

Moses, almost all the leaves had black spots on them. they turned yellow then brown and dried out, and fell off. the canes were getting brown spots on them then turning brown and dying. there would be spots where new growth would start, but then it would die in a few days.

Its possible its something else and not black spot. Some other fungal disease like downy mildew? What was the weather like the month before the rose had all the dying?

Wet and cold. There was snow, sleet, and then it all melted.

Yes, black spot will winter over as dark or purplish spots on the canes. BUT, that doesn't mean you need to remove the cane. As stated, you need to use a good fungicide to kill the spores so it does not spread further as the rose leafs out. You've already cut off more than needed probably so don't cut any more.

Downy mildew is a possibility too, but I doubt I could tell that from black spot.

My advice is for you to follow the directions given by Cecily, Jacqueline, and Seil.

The bush is in a weakened state, no further cutting at this time please, even the blackened stem. You can remove it later after the bush recovers.

Begin a regular spray program for the control of black spot now, and continue all growing season long. Spray all the leafless stems, even the black one ASAP. The bush should start fo leaf out very soon. Continue spraying every 10 days to 2 weeks there after, if using the Bayer fungicide. The Bayer fungicide works extremely well for me. I highly recommend it. I have not found the organic controls that I have tried effective, but I have not tried them all.

Time your spraying carefully. Foliage can be damaged easily if spray is misapplied. Then the good you are doing is cancelled out.

Never spray a thirsty bush, in the heat of the day, or when the temp. is 80 degrees F., or higher at spraying time or rises above 80 for a period of one hour after spraying. If you spray when the temp. is 78, and it gets up to 85 in just a half hour's time, that's no good. Spraying in the early morning or during dusk is always best.

I could not grow roses to any degree of success in my garden where the black spot pressure is intense and relentless from spring to fall, without a regular spray program.