Toni, I try, but it just doesn't work out well for me. I've only had 2 hybrid teas that have made it past winter, and both are terribly sad looking. Even many of my Austins are sad sad sad. Pat Austin is one of my faves, and she has been reduced to 3-4" sticks....and that's with ample winter protection! The die back is just too hard on them. I've tried a variety of types of winter protection....cages with leaves, mulch, peat moss...nothing seems to work well.
