Hey Lauren...This is a pretty complex question actually, but I can give you some general hints to help you out. The reason why it is complex is because different plants will have different winter needs. Some plants (especially plants that are native to your region) need no special attention at all. You could merely look at them funny and they will do just fine. :) Other plants you may have to dig up and bring inside for winter. If you have some plants in your yard that are on the borderline of your cold hardiness zone, there are some things you can do to promote better chances of survival this winter. For example, roses prefer fairly warm conditions and if given warm weather year round, they would never drop their leaves. Luckily roses can grow in cold climates. This advice is meant for a garden rose that produces long canes in spring and summer. After the rose drops its leaves, cut the canes back so that they are about 1' off of the ground. Always cut a stem just above where a leaf used to be. The buds (which will turn into the new stems come spring) are tucked away in the axil of where the leaf and branch meet. If you cut below where the leaf used to be, you will also remove the bud. After pruning the roses down, place some straw over the roses to cover them. This will provide a buffer from the snow and form a tiny igloo for your roses. Instead of the the snow coming into contact with the plant tissue, it will contact the straw and form a little capsule that will be slightly warmer than the exposed environment.
