Deer-Resistant PlantsTips on Gardening With Deer One gardening tip is to consider using herbs in your landscape to deter deer. Herbs are especially good to grow because deer don't like scented plants. In general, deer detest plants with thorny or prickly leaves or stems. I can't say that I blame them! Plants with strong scents, hairy leaves, or pungent tastes, such as herbs are generally considered deer-resistant plants. Since herbs are so easy to grow, they are a good place to start in combating deer in your garden. Plants the deer love should be planted closest to the house so that they are the easiest to manage. This area is protected by fencing or regular application of repellents. Also, planting deer-resistant plants around the plants that deer tend to enjoy most helps keep them away. For instance, planting hellebores around our hydrangeas ,as pictured here, mean deer will not step through them to get to your beloved plants. We have tried many new deer-resistant plants and products in order to minimize the damage. Repellents:One of the easiest and cheapest ways to keep deer away is to use repellents. The trick here is to train your deer early in the growing season to not like your plants. Follow the directions and apply every week to begin with, then once a month for year round protection. One of the most successful repellent we have used is Deer Scram Deer & Rabbit Repellent which is a non-toxic, environmentally safe, biodegradable granular product which offensive to deer and rabbits but not humans. Another popular brand that friends rave about is Deer Repellent: Plantskydd which also keeps both deer and rabbits away. Deer Fencing: is another very effective method of keeping deer out of your garden. With a five acre garden, we can't afford to fence in the entire area so we use fencing for our cutting and vegetable garden areas only. Deer fences should be six to eight feet high and the top should point away from the garden to make it harder for deer to jump over. Wireless Deer Fencing: This product works like a baited electric fence without the wires. Small post containing bare wire electrodes and scented resin attractant actually attracts the deer to the post. When a deer touches the post, it receives a startling shock which causes it to flee the area. This shock is startling, but will not harm children and pets (I would warn them though). You may even easily remove the small post when children are present. As with the deer repellent sprays and granules, the trick is to train you deer early in the season to stay away from certain areas. We tried this product and noticed that the directions called for using it along with the liquid deer repellent products in the beginning while you are training the deer. We followed these instructions, so it was difficult to say whether it worked or not. Purchase these at www.wirelessdeerfence.com Human or dog hair: Using human hair from a salon or pet hair from a groomer is one method that some people try to keep deer away. Placing it around your special plants may be helpful. Predator urine: Is exactly what it says. Urine of wolves and coyotes which are natural predators of deer. Smelling this in an area makes deer leave an area. Irish Spring Soap: One home remedy people have been know to have success with. Scrap soap shavings off the bar and spread around plants. Ultrasonic devices: These devices startle deer from your yard by using motion activated high-pitch sound waves which disturb the deer and not you. The Ultrasonic: Motion Activated Deer and Animal Repeller is our recommendation because, unlike most ultrasonic devices that deer get used to, this system is tested and designed to emit a high pitched ultrasonic sound which covers up to 4000 square feet. It also has an adjustable frequency range. The sensor range is 35 feet by 70 feet.  Custom Search Deer-Resistant Plants: PerennialsPerennials that deer frequently damage are:
Order live perennials online here. Deer-Resistant AnnualsAnnualsAnnuals not bothered by deer Annuals that deer frequently damage are: Annuals occasionally damaged are: Annuals may be bought as seeds and you may order yours online here. Great prices on wildflower seeds too! Deer-Resistant Plants: Vines and Ground Covers
Vines and Ground Covers occasionally damaged are: Buy live vines and groundcovers online here. Deer-Resistant Evergreen Shrubs and Landscape Trees
Evergreen Shrubs
Order live evergreen shrubs here. |
