Depends on how tender your roses are. At 5 inches deep the bud unions should be protected covered with a blanket of snow.
If you're not sure the snow cover will remain the whole winter, you could wait in case it melts or settles some or you might consider packing the snow down around each bush and placing the pine needles and straw on top of that. That should keep the soil temperature even around the bushes and take care of your winterizing.
Otherwise a thick blanket of snow all season should provide good winter protection by itself.

Thank you again Karl. I appreciate your answer very much.

In our area, if we had a snow this early, it would surely melt before we got any more snow. If the snow does melt, then pile on pine needles. If it doesn't, and you get even more snow that lasts, consider yourself lucky. Snow is the best insulator.

I'm really new to roses, I only have one. I live in Northern Alberta Canada and winter is quite cold. I don't know how to protect my one and only. Do I cut it back? Do I cover it? It's right next to the house, north facing. I would appreciate any suggestions:)

Is it too late to plant a mini rose?

Erika!! I'm from Alberta too!! I'll try to walk you through this.

If your rose is a hardy rose, then the only thing you need to do is water it VERY well before the snow falls to stay.

If your rose is a tender rose, then you should have planted it with the graft (the knobby part of the stem) at least 6 inches under the dirt. Then WATER, very well just as above. What I did last year (I have 44 roses that have survived for 4 years and I have many that didn't) was to dump leaves and plant material (from perennials that I cut back) around the rose and then tossed peat moss or more dirt on top of that so that the rose is covered at least to where the branches are. Then all winter, I keep topping off with snow.

Write back in the spring and we'll tell you how to/when to uncover your rose.

Anymore questions?

Carol

Where are you Carol??? I'm by Stony Plain.

I don't know WHAT kind of rose it is. It was a gift. It has multiple medium sized blooms that last forever. Skinny little branches. The ground is already pretty frozen, will watering still help?

I'm in Edmonton! We're actually zone 3a, not zone 2.

I'm not sure if it will help now. If the water can sink into the ground (do you have one of those tree root waters that gets down into the ground?) it will help. If the water pools on top, then it's a no.

You know what? If your rose doesn't make it, then no worries. It's only one rose. You can get another. Try not to stress about it.

Is your rose by the house? That will help. It would be like being in zone 4. Dump a bunch of dirt on your rose - about a foot.

Carol