I read your blog with intrest-- I live in MT, USA, zone,,(appox 4) I read with interestyour comments aboout pruning the canes. I had read before, soomwhere, in an article that stated it isn't good to prune. I di pile extra top soi; , way up on my rose canes, and then covered with hay. Wish I had read about the peat moss, earlier.
Anyway,thanks for your post-- I'll let you know in the spring, "whot hoppens!"