Do you have a dog? When you brush the dog collect all the fur from the brush ( the smellier the better) and stuff small bundles of it down between the canes of each bush, near the bottom. Canines are the natural enemy of deer and they will stay away. Worked for me for 20 years. Sadly, my dogs have passed away and I now use coyote urine on the perimeter. It works well and is not as smelly as fox urine. You do have to reapply fairly often .

Do deer visit your yard? The LOVE rose buds and will delicately pick off the "tasty morsels".

You could try this mix:

1. Beat two eggs until it is foamy --2 minutes or so.

2. Go to your local food coop or story that sells cayenne pepper in bulk. Get two tablespoons. It shouldn't cost more than 75 cents! Beat into the eggs -- don't get it in your eyes!

If you want it in bulk: One pound of 90,000 heat units ground cayenne = https://www.frontiercoop.com/bulk/seasonings/culinary-spices-and-herbs/frontier-co-op-cayenne-chili-pepper-powder-90-000-hu1-lb

3. add one tsp. dish detergent ( it acts like a "sticker") -- beat in

4. Add one gallon of water. Stir with vigor.

5. Let it sit overnight, shake it up well the next day and start spraying your rose buds, hostas...whatever deer/animal delicacies your garden offers. Reapply after rain.

You don't have to use it all up at once, and it WILL get stinky.

This mix allowed my mother to enjoy her lilies, roses, and hostas without sharing any with the deer.

Check the squirrel repellents on Amazon, and see what the reviews say before buying. For deer, I have had good luck in general from deer repellent--Deer Out, which I've used for years. It has the best reviews, and contains a few extra ingredients (oil of peppermint and oil of white pepper) besides the usual rotten eggs. If you think your problem might be rabbits, try garlic powder. It has worked for me in the past, though I don't have a rabbit problem now. Good luck with the pests, whoever they are. Diane

Alas, if it is eggs (which I literally can't handle the smell of without getting almost ill myself) &the overpowering even to humans animal urine---I will have to pass on those suggestions. I do appreciate the replies though--truly! They are not deer. We have none where we live. We have a cargo ship full of squirrels & chipmunks though. I never actually catch them in the act--just leaning towards the last 3 year generations of younger crazy acting squirrels. Moth balls don't work? You guys don't think the cayenne works? Thanks.

I've tried cayenne on rabbits and I didn't notice any effect, but I don't know about squirrels. I'm surprised cayenne doesn't bother you (I cook with it all the time), and my past experience with animal urine is that it doesn't work on deer. Who knows with squirrels, though. We have kitties which are let out under supervision, and boy, squirrels don't like cats (we had just one poor squirrel who eventually gave up and left our yard). You grow used to the egg smell, though the kind of repellent I use doesn't smell all that eggy because of the oil of peppermint. You can't believe the number of times I've gotten backsprayed because of slightly breezy conditions. I wouldn't want cayenne drifting into my eyes if I were sprinkling it on roses. To me, moth balls are the worst smelling of all. Diane

Here's the roses they LOVE to eat, Happy Go Lucky (yellow), Pretty Lady Rose (gorgeous scent, huge red--haven't seen but one flower since I had planted it, eventually dug it out thanks to the critters), American Beauty (beautiful huge hot pink roses with really no fragrance--but gorgeous blooms). It had one season before the critters never let one bud last. Violet's Pride--(gorgeous lavender), last season they decimated it. This season so far, only one bud & a ton of blooms waiting to open. Roses I will get in the future that they have left alone, Dick Clark & Hot Cocoa. There is another one that I have had for about 15 years. It is a medium pink color & gets very tall, very healthy. Wish I would have kept the card on that one.

Awwwww. :( I'm so sorry that those darn squirrels are robbing you of your rose passion. :( I don't have any suggestions, unfortunately.

Simmer Asian pepper flakes in water for 10 minutes and let cool. Filter through cheese cloth. Generously spray your buds. Solution keeps forever.

jana, do normal pepper flakes work or are Asian pepper flakes hotter? My concern is would this burn/harm the bushes? Thanks.