Climbing rose canes, even the hardy ones also can suffer badly if planted in exposed places. Rhododendron leaves will curl , boxwood and yews will turn yellow to brown. This is caused by the soil freezing and thawing and unless you push them back down immediately their chances of surviving are very slim. I remain firm on the belief that the only way to ensure your perennials survival is to cover them to some extent so that the sun cannot warm the soil during the winter months. Fallen leaves are an excellent source of free bed covering.
Evergreen boughs do the trick wonderfully.
The Christmas tree in our home is recycled twice. As you read this hopefully you will come to a better understanding of why some of your plants are damaged or die over winter. Remember, plants are a lot like us humans. They are living things directly effected by their environment. Keep your plants as healthy as you can.