Question
what would you advise for winter as far as protection? please be as specific as possible. thanks.

Answer
Well, you may need minimal protection if you are living South of the Mason Dixon line, Amanda.  And you may need a LOT of protection if you are in the Canadian tundra.

Let's go with the middle ground here and if you want further information just let me know, and I'll be happy to deliver.

Roses need protection because they generally are too tender to survive a normal cold winter in the Northeast and along the Eastern Seaboard.  The roots are especially vulnerable.  Without a blanket of leaves, soil or greenhouse, they often experience severe injury and even complete death.  Since many are grafted onto stronger rootstock, you often find the rootstock surviving where the upper branches did not - and the Rose changes color.  So whatever you "mulch" your Roses with, and this does not really describe it because you are really burying your plants under a lot of stuff to putt hem "underground" for winter, it should be designed to thickly protect the Rose bush stems and stem tips so that they will bloom the following season.

When you take soil for this burying task, don't take it from the area near the Roses.  These are shallow rooted plants and you don't want to injure roots at the beginning.  Cover with a foot or so of soil, under it you can throw a pile of leaves to increase insulation levels, and simply remove it in spring.  You'll get best results that way.

Now, I remind you, it really depends on where you live for this kind of thing.  If you can, let me know what zip you live in, or your zone, or whatever, to make sure you are living in U.S. Rose-growing territory.  RSVP