Tipped roses should be mulched heavily, around 12 inches deep, with leaves, straw or hay. It is important not to apply the mulch until the ground is almost freezing or has just frozen. Most years, this is in mid-to late November. If it snows early, simply apply the mulch on top of the snow. All modern roses need to be protected in our area and tipping is the most effective way to do this.
Modern roses are the hybrid teas, grandifloras, floribundas, polyanthas and tree roses.
Roses have been successfully wintered for years by mounding the soil a foot deep over the graft on the roses where they are planted. Mounded roses are mulched the same as tipped roses. A small wire fence around the rose will help keep the mulch from blowing away. Another method used for years is mounding the plants and then covering with a rose cone, but this is no longer recommended. Then, as the sun goes down, temperatures will drop back below freezing, often causing extensive damage to the rose.