Leaf-cutter Ants and Rose bushes

We’ve had a huge problem with leaf cutter ants for a long time. They’ve made their homes everywhere, and especially on pieces of land near us that haven’t been well maintained. I had been carefully tending to a rose bush that I propped up with stakes so that it grows upward instead of slouching on the ground. I was so excited because it was full of leaves and it had a few buds on it, so I was looking forward to it blossoming. Unfortunately though, over night a couple weeks ago, the ants got to the rose bush and stripped away all of the leaves. I was so disappointed, but I noticed that the roses were still left. The ants haven’t been in that area since then, so I’m hoping that when I get back from furlough, and now especially since the rains started for the season, they’ll be full of leaves and roses again. The good thing is, is that they didn’t get to some of the other pretty flowers that are in the same spot.