Deer
If living in the countryside where both rabbits and deer cohabit, your roses are doubly at risk.
When there is snow on the ground deer become braver in their search for food and will stray into the garden. In the USA, where the deer are less timid, this is a bigger problem than that faced by us in the UK. Perimeter fencing will help but the temptation is to cover this with climbing and rambling roses, thus placing them at the deer’s height. If a little extra pruning on the outside of the perimeter can be tolerated then the problem is solved but by planting the thorniest varieties you may deter the deer even more.
