Help! Something is Eating My Roses
Protecting young rose plants from rabbits

QUESTION:
Something has eaten all the green leaves off of one of my miniature roses. All that is left is the stalk coming out of the ground. There are other miniature roses near by untouched...maybe whoever it was got full. Who knows?!! Anyway, what suggestions do you have for keeping ...probably a rabbit? from eating my roses? I have miniatures, floribunda, tea, and grandiflora in the same garden around my back patio.
Thanks!!
Debbie

ANSWER:
I believe that you may indeed have a rabbit problem. The best defense against the rabbits is rabbit fence. Chicken wire can be purchased in about 16" width. Place this fence around your roses until the plant has matured. The rabbit only wants to chew on the young tender growth. I think that the rabbits have a problem with rose kanes once these harden. The rabbit fence can be removed once the roses have reached maturity.