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If you are growing roses it will depend on the area of the country that you live in as to the necessary winter protection: I hope the information I give will be helpful what matter where you live if you are growing roses.
Where you live will make the need for winter protection
vary: those who live in Maine and Minnesota will need lots of protecion. In fact, most avid rose growers actually give additional protection by putting a tight board roof over rose beds, resting it on the boards that box the sides but with three inch openings along the ends, for air circulation.
The amount of protection that you give your roses growing in severe climates will actually determine the winter loss: hopefully it will not exceed five to ten percent, and, yes, it is expected that the canes will be frozen back to the earth coverings.
In most parts of the central states and in southern New England, just hilling up the earth in the beds as high as available soil will permit (say 6 to 12 inches) should save the roots and a significant amount of wood on the Polyanthas, Hardy Climbers and the Hybrid Perpetuals.
In Canada gardeners who grow roses need to remember that winter protection depends on drainage in preventing the beds from being flooded with standing water. Also the roses will need adequate shading to protect them from strong sunlight, which tends to dry out the canes. In the early spring and also late winter alternating freezing and thawing can cause serious damage to the plants.
Some Rambles are usually hardy without protection, except in the far north. But, remember, it is always a good idea to take them down, lay them along the ground and cover them with straw, hay or evergreen boughs.
A lot of the large flowered Climbers, hybrids such as Dobloons, are hardy without protection even in Canada. Still, it is better to play it safe and take them down or at least to tie on and set a protective screen of evergreens, burlap or corn stalks on the south side to protect them from sun-scald following freezing.
Just remember that every area has a different climate and always check with your local nursery for ideas on better protection.
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