How to Protect Roses from Deer
Deer love roses, and no plant is truly deer-proof. The most reliable protection is a physical barrier — fencing or netting — supplemented by repellents, strong-scented companion plants, and thorny, dense varieties.
Roses are a favorite deer browse, buds, blooms, and all, and a hungry deer will push through most deterrents. The only dependable defense is a physical one: a fence at least seven to eight feet tall, or netting and cages around individual plants.
Where fencing is not practical, rotate scent-based repellents (deer quickly learn to ignore any single one), plant strongly aromatic companions like lavender and catmint around your roses, and favor very thorny, dense varieties such as rugosas, which deer find less appealing. Combining several tactics works better than relying on one.