Do Deer Eat Roses?
Yes, let’s cut to the chase: deer eat roses. Because of course they do. But that’s the good news- now you don’t have to plant roses. All of a sudden, you’re freed up to do something much cooler in your garden space! Basically, there are much more interesting perennials than Roses. Additionally, most of them are not so needy and high maintenance either.
Roses are fussy and behave like divas in any North American garden space. They are the quintessential, posterchild high maintenance plant. You need to put fresh compost on their feet every April. Then, spread compost tea in a spray pump in May. Later in June, your Roses will probably really prefer if you bring a large centrifugal fan to the garden and fan them from noon until sunset. While it may be true that this is hyperbole, it is also true that Roses are way too demanding as garden residents. Vis a vis any strategically sited native plant, Roses cost more in energy, maintenance, attention and time.
Presently, there is a solution. Plant native wildflower perennials in your gardens instead of Roses! Certainly, your required monthly maintenance inputs will shrink. Subjectively, your beauty and happiness quotients will increase. Additionally, it’s the right thing to do for the environment. Deer will eat almost anything not nailed down. But most of our ecosystem’s fauna doesn’t behave that way. Choosing native species for your garden planting ensures that the local pollinators, songbirds and butterflies have something to support them too. Roses don’t help with any of that. Without question, in 2024, continuing the 19th & 20th century legacy Rose Gardens is a misappropriation of resources.
How to hire Jessecology for your wildflower garden construction project:
We’d love to meet you! Certainly, our team can design + build a wildflower garden for you. Please fill out our customer intake form and we’ll be in touch soon.