Planting bare roots
 
In  zone 5 you should be able to receive and plant bareroot roses by the middle or end of March. They'll be dormant when you receive them and stay dormant until the soil warms up so don't worry about planting them too soon.

Soak your roses for 6 to 24 hours before you plant them. You can use a starting
solution in the soak such as B1 or one of many other products made for that purpose. If you can't plant soon after they arrive, keep them moist and wrapped in the original packing and box and in a cool place, like your unheated garage.

Keep away from windows or a fiberglass door. Both can let heat in and warm up the bushes. Dig your holes 18 to 24" deep and wide. Mix organics such as leaves, compost, horse manure, or composted cow manure about half and half with the soil in the bottom half of the hole. Form a small hill on top of that to spread the roots over when you plant the rosebush. I mix a cup of triple super phosphate with the soil in that little hill. You can also use bonemeal, organic fertilizer, manure, or a slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote. Don't use any fast acting fertilizers or you will burn the roots and kill you bush.

Take a rose out of the soak and prune each cane, removing any thin, broken, or crossing canes. Keep 3 or four of the strongest. Prune to a outward facing bud on each remaining cane. Trim back any real long roots. Cut off any broken
roots and cut the tips of the others to expose fresh tissue. This promotes better root growth. You may, just before you plant, dip the complete bush in a bath of water and 1 cup of household bleach. Dip don't soak!

Spread the roots out over the little hill in the hole. Make sure you have placed the bud union where you want it. Some say 2 inches deep, some level with the ground, some above the ground. In zone 5 if you don't want to winter protect, plant the bud union 2 to 6 inches deep. If you plan on protecting then you can leave the union exposed.

Pull about half the remaining soil around the roots and tamp it down with your hands carefully. I slowly pour 5 gallons of water on the partially planted bush to eliminate air pockets and settle the soil. After it's soaked in pull the rest of the soil in and on top of the bush. Bring more soil in if you need, to barely cover it. Leave a slight depression around the bush for water to pool.

When growth appears from the hill of soil, gently remove the soil with your hands or a stream of water. Keep watered well and fertilize when the rose starts to set buds. If you have heavy clay soil raise your planting bed 8 to 12" for better draining. Roses like lots of water but they don't like wet feet.

Invest in a "How to" book on growing roses such as Ortho's "All About Roses" or "Roses For Dummies." Both are good for starters and will give you a better look at pruning.