Your parterre sounds so lovely! I have a suggestion for the roses that you can find in Europe but not so well here any more. They are the Poulsen groundcover series that was called Towne & Country roses. I have grown two of them for years (Pebble Beach and Natchez), and they are very special groundcovers, imho. You can definitely cut them shorter and they will still bloom profusely. The foliage is miniature and perfect! They bloom in a ton of shade for anyone who needs that, which I do. The flowers aren't as big as the ones you are considering, though. They are very charming and just great roses, so I thought I'd mention them. The effect is like a miniature version of The Fairy. The names used vary, so check them out on Help Me Find. I'd probably check for Poulsen groundcover roses at any nursery you are considering and look them up to see if they are part of this series, because the marketing on these seems all over the map. More in the series whose names I remember: http://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=2.3840.4 http://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/l.php?l=2.24749.3 They spread sideways but no so much up. Groundcovers like to get very tall here, so the low growth is nice. They are just the best roses! Here is a link that might be useful: Pebble Beach (Poulen Towne & Country series)

I just have a few thoughts - the first is it's normal for non-hardy or semi-hardy roses to die back in the winter. If it's otherwise vigorous and healthy it will bounce back and grow nicely each summer. Mainly though, I wouldn't grow tender perennials along a driveway that you're clearing snow from. Even if there is burlap and snow over the roses, it's only a couple of inches to the driveway with no snow cover and the cold seeping deep into the ground. Those will also be competing at one side for nutrients with the grass, and blocked at the other side by concrete and gravel. As for what to do now, the dead ones are dead. If a rose hasn't grown by August, it's not coming back. I don't know if you live near me, but we had a very long, cold winter last winter. Hopefully the ones that are still alive will get established and perform better for you in future years.

JESS: Thank you for the pics. & neat info. about Badger .. I really enjoy learning about the animals in South Africa. One cup of chicken manure per bush is TOO MUCH. In a British rose forum, a lady burnt her roses by using chicken manure once a month. In my cold zone, I use chicken manure VERY SMALL amount when the temp is cool & rainy. Folks use Rose-Tone (has chicken manure) once a month for roses in pots. But that has only 1/6 chicken manure. I would use only 1/2 cup, 1 cup would be too salty. I killed a rose by mixing 1/2 cup of chicken manure in the planting hole. When chicken manure touches the root, it kills the root, best to dilute ONLY 1/2 cup with soil before spreading around the bush. I started a new thread, "10/30/15: Bad habits, good habits, rose & health tips, recipes." http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3473294/m=3/10-30-15-bad-habits-good-habits-rose-and-health-tips-recipes

Ok so update here...I planted these 2 bushes about 4'-5' apart and one is looking great , and the other looks completely dead! I mean all of its leaves turned yellow and fell off, whereas the other didn't experience much of any type of stress it seems? I planted both the exact same way? Which makes me think once again these were two different bushes..the one that dropped all leaves and looks dead it the one in the first pic above in my orig. question. And the one doing great is the pic I posted in the comment at start of thread...ps this one also has 2 different color blooms on it as well? So here they are the dead looking one, and the live looking one...do you think there is any hope for the dead looking one? What did I do wrong?