Rose Tree Not Leafing Out? How to Check for Life in the Canes

A rose tree's leaves weren't opening; they were dark green, almost black, but soft and pliable.

Scratch Test

Scratch a cane with a fingernail or knife. Green tissue underneath means alive. Cut a cane—live wood looks like a green apple inside. Brown pith means that cane is dead. Prune back to green wood. If all canes are brown, the tree is dead.