Alan,
I've wondered about cleaning away the dead leaves. I, too, thought it may help insulate the bed in summer. I have left the leaves at times and cleared them away at times... I'm inclined to leave them. It must provide "shade" in the summer or some sort of insulation. I pruned one of my 4 bushes 2 weeks ago. Others will follow in a few weeks. The pruning I did on this pink hybrid Tea was the most severe I've done in my 4 years as it's caregiver.
