My suggestion would be to mulch all around the plants 6" deep to keep them from freezing/drying out. I'd just leave the canes as-is until spring pruning, unless, like my roses, they're right at the line where snow hits when it slides off the roof. Then I'd prune them back to thick, sturdy 1' ft high canes.

Pine needles make good winter mulch.

In the following year, they can be composted.

I find it best to mix them well with good, fertile soil for composting. My Rodale gardening encyclopedia rate them at .5% nitrogen, the same number is used for cow manure.

Steve

Depends on what roses you planted. If you planted tea roses I agree with the advise above. I used to live near Livingston and had Morden roses and other shrub roses. Never did anything and they were fine.

suzanne

Thank you all for your responses - this helps me!