I'm going to disagree :-) You want to keep mulch away from woody stems and trunks, especially with a winter mulch, as these can hold too much moisture and create rots. With non-woody plants and in summer, mulching right up to the plant does not create problems.....although it can harbor insects, which can easily invade. In colder winter climates, many plants are heavily mulched for additional cold protection, including upto and over the crown or any stems. Roses are often treated in this manner - in fact, bending over the shrub so it is more or less on its side and completely covering the plant with mulch is a common practice. Ditto for hydrangeas to protect latent flower buds from cold damage, although the mulch typically tends to be quite loose. And herbaceous perennials and bulbs are often totally covered with mulch in winter, regardless of climate :-) One always need to be careful when dealing with absolutes when it comes to gardening -- there are very few that are universally applicable. The general rule if thumb is that it "depends" - depends on the plant, depends on the situation, depends on the climate, depends on the type of mulch. Or, never say never :-) There are typically exceptions to every 'rule'!

The traditional defense to dining preferences of rabbits is one of those folding wire "rabbit" fences with legs set into the dirt, or something similar like wire mesh. They come knee-high & slightly shorter and can be used to protect a general area or just a specific plant. Useful, too, to corral floppy plants inconspicuously. More decorative permanent edging & fencing with non-squirmable spacing does the trick, with buried mesh to prevent digging underneath. Surrounded by woodlands here, with many rabbits & other wildlings, all with tummies to fill! Find encompassing the beds with plants they don't like deters them from exploring the interior. Lavender, monarda, salvia, heuchera, dusty miller & more work as edging. While waiting for plants to originally fill in, those rabbit fences come in handy! After that, I don't clear the foliage in the Fall even on those not evergreen - perhaps the oils in the leaves & stems continue to repel them or they've decided by then those beds are not interesting? A few of the deer, a small minority of the several herds here, find perfumed phlox irresistible as they begin to bloom (ditto roses). Those are protected by lavender, agastache, others high in essential oils, thick floppy plants & those that obscure their footing. Deer here are very careful where they step while browsing & hesitant to risk where they can't see bare ground, reluctant to even jump into such unsafe territory. Even wire fences laid on the ground in plain sight on grass exclude them (but not the rabbits!), as do upright jumpable fences if the flower or veggie bed is long & narrow without a clearly visible landing place. While redoing a 15x20' bed off the front walk last year, potting up some plants temporarily & leaving others, wound up with tempting open areas in the process. Set empty flower pots on bare soil to keep them from advancing into the bed, on the theory of unsure footing. Sure enough, it worked! With all critters, seems a game of wits & strategy as much as one of claiming territory by fencing... This post was edited by vasue on Sun, Jun 22, 14 at 13:48

Please check out the Winter Sowing forum and the following article. http://www.nj.com/enter/index.ssf?/living/ledger/index.ssf%3f/base/living-0/110862120870240.xml A lot of people have been having a great time sowing in plastic containers (milk jugs, pop bottles, plastic bags, etc.) and setting them outdoors since Christmas. These people swear by the method. I found out about this winter sowing 4 weeks ago and have been converted. Try it. It's fun. :-)

If they were in containers I would plant them, but as they are stable, even if it is not the best spot, I would leave them till spring. No sense in causing them undo stress, when you can move them in the spring. Ramblin Red is a hardy rose and they say you should not need to protect them, but if they were mine I would provide some protection once some frost has settled into the ground. Marsh hay, straw or leaves will protect them; which will be handy if we start the winter with lots of cold and little to or snow. After a summer in the right environment (more sun, in their new spot) you shouldn't have to be as cautious. I am not an expert, I do have about 20 hardy roses, it is more difficult in these odd winters where snow cover is not a given. Good Luck! Helen.