Winterizing Z5 (IL) perennial beds?

OK, I know there are probably a dozen (at least) different answers to this.
What do you do to protect your perennials over the winter?
I have been raking my leaves onto my beds but I'm afraid that I may be 
smothering them.  I always have things that don't survive.  Or could I not be 
raking them off early enough in the spring?

And this year, so many things are still green so I hate to cover them up yet.
Would it be better to mulch the leaves and put them around the plants rather 
than actually covering them?  Would this hold true in years when everything 
is pretty much dead by now?  

What other methods do you suggest?

Thanks again for all your wisdom!!
Best Wishes --
Barb
USDA Zone 5, Rock Island, IL
"What this country needs is dirtier fingernails & cleaner minds."  Will Rogers
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