For my climbers their first year when they are still young I put straw around them and wrap them with burlap. Some of the Lowes have straw and I get burlap from Walmart. I wrap around Thanksgiving. You also could get rose cones. Menards and garden stores cary them. Put a brick on the top so that they don't blow away. I plan on using rose cones on two Niko Blue Hydrangea and will see if they bloom for me next year. Good Luck. Hey, what roses did you plant? Amy

What are the names of your roses? Many are labeled as zone 5 or even 4, but obviously haven't been tested and promptly die in a cold winter.

I use a 12' mound of pine needles for protection of some of my least hardy or newer roses. Probably hard to find for you in the city. Try the straw like both recommends, keeping in mind you're going for dry and loose vs. matted down and wet, whatever material you use. Matted down & wet over the winter means fungal disease.

I don't apply my protection til the ground freezes and roses are truly dormant, sometimes closer to Christmas than Thanksgiving.

If your roses really need protection then wait till after a few hard frosts and the ground begins to freeze. Xmas tree boughs after xmas do offer a bit of protection.

I used to try to protect tender roses only to find out that the methods I was using caused more harm than good, I now buy only roses that are hardy to my zone, 5b. However, if I have a cutting that I want to protect then I will use wood chip mulch but not till the ground is begining to freeze. Covering the roses too early might cause new growth and fungus to start, neither of which do you want.

Good luck. If you could tell us the names of the roses you planted then we could probably tell you if they need protection.

Valerie

Yes, Christmas might be better. I think I wrapped too early last year causing some problems with my Fourth Of July climber.

Thanks for your advice. And although I live in the city, I have a horse outside of the city (1 hr. drive), and do have access to straw (and, of course, lots o' manure which my roses seem to love).

Here is a list of my roses:

In front garden, facing SE, z5b:
Carefree something (I am not sure which)
Country Dancer
Lyda Rose
Marie Pavie
Snow Gosling

In back garden, facing NW, z5a:
Darlow's Enigma
Mystery rose that was there when I move in

I found wood shavings to be great protection for roses. They drain fast, don't hold water, and can be worked into the soil where they'll breakdown fast. Small bales can be purchased at some pet supply places. It's sold for animal bedding. I used 5 gallon buckets with the bottoms removed around the bushes, then fill it with the shavings. You can do the same with a rose cone. Cut the top off and fill it up with the shavings. Shredded oak leaves work well also.
To get the bucket or rose cone over the bush, tie the canes together. Don't prune until spring.
Winter protection begins when you plant your rose, Make sure you bury the bud union 4-6 inches below the soil surface.
I suspect your loss this year was due to the April freeze, not any cold temps we had earlier.