I don't winter protect but I only grow roses that are at least crown hardy in zone 5. So I'm probably no help. I'm really starting to like roses that are hardy to zone 4. I bury my own roots deeper also.

I hope that you are feeling much now. Happy rose season 2016!

Ditto what Patty said. I don't winter protect my roses any longer and I've become ruthless about eliminating roses which are borderline hardy for me. Just not up to fighting that losing battle any more. I might baby a fragile newcomer with mound of soil for the first winter. There are certain warm or sheltered spots in most gardens that can harbor a slightly tender rose, and I confess I reserve those for my prima donnas.

Here, because of the erratic nature of winter, smother love kills. Many more roses have been harmed by being buried under mounds of moisture retentive 'winter protection' than have been hurt by cold temperatures. I strongly suspect this is true of almost everywhere. Winter protection is done for the gardener, not the rose.

I do provide a wind break at the edge of my beds of filled leaf bags laid on their sides, but all I do for internal winter protection in the beds is about 3" of oak leaves around the base. Some of the more tender HTs and floris die back to this level of leaf protection, so I find it useful but not essential for all but the most fussy-pants of roses (i.e. teas). As others have said, it's much easier to plant roses meant for your zone.

Hope you are recovering well from your heart attack! Be a little cautious about rapidly standing or bending over, but remember that the gentle walking and squatting associated with gardening is good healthy exercise, not to mention good for the soul!

Cynthia