DEER PROOFING ROSES

[WINSTON1425]

I am planning to plant several roses this spring.
Please advise on how to deer-proof them

Thank you

[hay]

The only effective means of deer proofing I ever found is a shotgun. Seriously, deer are real pests where I live and will eat almost anything including spiny cactus. If ya find a real deer proof method, then please post on here so I can try it also. thanks.

[rainbowgardener]

Deer are beautiful to look at, but certainly a pest in the garden. There are a variety of repellants both commercial and home made varieties -- Irish Spring soap hung around the plants, coyote urine (which you can purchase), Milorganite fertilizer, rotten egg solids, etc.
Here's a little article about the use of repellants
https://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/wildlife/deercont.PDF

However, the most reliable method is deer fencing, also known as deer netting. It is very light but strong netting, easy to put up- see examples here:

[url=https://www.google.com/products?hl=en&source=hp&q=deer+fence&oq=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=vsebS-jxO430sgPr1s2dAg&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CDAQrQQwAA]deer fencing[/url]

You just need to put the netting not on the plant, but staked a bit a way from it and covering across the top as well.

[Ozark Lady]

How about deer dogs?

We had beagles that loved to chase rabbits, or deer when I was a kid.

In Arkansas now you can't use dogs to hunt deer. But, you can still train the dogs, why I don't know, since you can't use them.

But, some dogs still love to chase deer... why not use them? And if you are not out there with your gun, and hunting with the dogs... you aren't using the dogs for deer hunting!

I have alot of deer, but they are afraid of my noisy dogs, even though mine won't chase them, they will bark at them. I have to goat proof everything, because they are determined to escape the pasture and they are not afraid of the dogs at all.

Deer are better jumpers than goats are, but either one prefers the easy route... fences are not the easy route! I put perimeter fences everywhere that I plant.

[WINSTON1425]

Thank you for all the great suggestions.
Rignt now I think I am leaning towards a dog.

Thank you again, this site is wonderfull.

[svansyckle]

I've had no luck protecting my roses with homemade rememdies like soap and hair. I use a commercial repellent called deer off. Works really well ... even after a rainy week. In fact, I need to go to the store and stock up before the deer start showing up!