what I wouldent give to have a leaf cutter this year. I fought off the aphids and then the ants but VERY few bees. I plant a few things to bring them in and I am heartbroken because I am missing them this year. the "damage" they do has never really hurt my roses and I am happy to see them come back to visit my fresh blooms. I am begging anyone who sees them to please just leaf them bee.

Yes, cutter bees. Nothing to do about them. They don't harm the plants, and they are excellent pollinators.

Just when you think you can't stand the nasty bugs anymore, the good bugs swoop in and demolish them. It has been several years since I've even checked my roses for aphids. Of course if you have used chemicals (killing all the bugs) for a few years, it may take time to build up the good bug population. Usually within a week of seeing the aphids, you can find the lacewings and ladybugs. Or a spray of water from the hose knocks the aphids to the ground, and it takes them awhile to climb back up. Quick and cheap.

Glad to see you took action! 2' high is sufficient. A standard hybrid tea type bush needs a cage with a 24" diameter. You're making the cages for a mature sized bush, not for how they are now for the liner size, baby roses, but for up the road when your bushes are mature in about 3 yrs. The cages last for years. 72" length of fence will make a 24" diameter cage. That means about 8 cages, 24" high and 24" diameter, from a 50' roll. You use more fence than you think! Cages do nothing for deer. Have you determined if it's rabbits or deer, or both? When you make your cages do not make permanent connections where the two cut edges of the fence meet. Use a wire that can be untwisted so the cage can be removed and repositioned when/if needed. A thin, plastic coated copper wire will work well. Your cages also work double duty to hold the winter mulch in place. To keep the mulch from slipping through the cage openings, line the inside of the cages with several layers of newspaper. In spring: unfasten wire, compost newspaper, spread the mulch, prune rose bush (not this coming spring so much pruning for baby roses, but in future springs), and return cage. Mulch also serves two purposes, winter protection and summer soil mulch. Pine bark is what I like best and use. Purchase MULCH size (small), chunks, not NUGGET size chunks, which are too big. Rose gardening does present challenges. That's what makes a well grown rose bush in full bloom an accomplishment only a few people can understand and appreciate. The personal rewards are incredible and no flower has the breath taking impact of a rose.