Q Ribes buds went brown. Is it dead?

ARibes is one of the toughest shrubs, so it’s strange the buds have died. A late frost might have damaged some flowers, but if all the growth was affected, winter waterlogging might have been the problem. Typically, the plants start to sprout but give up because the roots are dead.

If it has no leaves in summer, dig it out. If leaves are appearing, give it a prune to encourage new growth (until June).