I agree that late frosts after stretches of warm, mild weather tend to do the most harm to roses, especially HT and closely related floribundas. Playboy grew without problem for me in zone 6b, NJ but I have killed two or three here in zone 7b mountains of AZ. All died immediately after a late frost in spring after leafing out. Sometimes burying the bud union two or three inches deep when planting will preserve some of the budded wood and the rose will come back, if it is already well established. Where the same problem occurrs year after year just establishing the rose is a challenge.
Good luck, and we do look forward to progress reports.
