Question
This is our roses first winter.  We live in zone 5.  Should I cover with Styrofoam?  How far back, if any, do I prune them, and when?  Thanks for the help.

Answer
When you buy a very hardy rose, enjoy the fact that you don't have to be very concerned abut protecting it. Knock Out is a very hardy rose and will do well in your area without a lot of fuss. However because it is the first year and the roots may not be deep enough yet, just make a mound of soil, compost, bark mulch etc to about 8 inches high all around the base and over the top and that will be all that is needed. Prune the rose back to abut 2 feet now and you are finished for the winter. If you want your Knock Out roses to be smaller bushes, simply prune them back to 12 inches next spring when they start to bud out.