Deer Resistant Plants

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Deer Resistant Plants

Purchasing deer resistant plants and reading books on gardening with deer,is the best defense against deer destroying your garden. Realize though that if deer are starving, they will eat just about anything.

This year we have declared war on the deer that seem to have found our garden and have made it a nightly tourist attraction for them and their friends. We are going to try many new plants and products in order to minimize the damage. We will be reporting on what deer resistant plants and products work and which ones don't. See a link to the article I wrote about what we have tried that works at the bottom of this page. Also, you can tell us what you have done to keep deer out of your yard. What product have you tried? What home remedy? Let us know in the form below.

With 5 acres of garden, it will be a good test!

We are working on a special report on gardening with deer which will be announced soon in our Stewart's Gardening Newsletter. Be sure and sign up for it now by entering your email address on the form to your left in the navigational bar. You will be sent and email to confirm your subscription and as an added bonus, you will receive a password which enables you to download a special report on soil amendments. This is a must read if you want to have a successful garden.

You can start minimizing the damage right now by following these tips.

Tips On Gardening With Deer

Deer resistant plants does not mean deer proof! It just means that these are plants deer would rather not eat. In general deer don't like plants with thorny or prickly leaves or stems. Plants with strong scents, hairy leaves, or pungent tastes, such as herbs are generally not liked by deer. Some plants are actually poisonous to deer such as daffodils and

hellebores (Lenten rose)

These are never eaten in our garden. And we have hundreds of each of these types of plants.

Shop at SpringHillNursery.com for $25 off your order of $50 or more!

In the spring, deer will eat almost anything. They love tender new growth as it emerges.

Deer eat vegetation that is soft to the touch and has a high water content. Flower buds are one of their favorites!

Over fertilized and over watered plants are especially lush and appealing to deer.

Ornamental grasses are usually avoided by deer. There are may to choose from and most are long lived and are very drought tolerant.

Some of the most popular include Korean Feather Reed Grass, River Oats, Pampas Grass, Maiden Grass, Pink Muhly Grass, Panic Grass, Fountain Grass, and Indian Grass.

Deer don't seem to like fern foliage. Most ferns prefer shade and moist soil and are attractive combined with shrubs and perennials or used as groundcover.

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service suggests these evergreen ferns. Autumn Fern, Christmas Fern, Holly Fern, and Tassel Fern. Deciduous ferns include Southern Maidenhair Fern, Lady Fern, Japanese Painted Fern, Royal Fern, Cinnamon Fern, and Southern Shield Fern.

We have found that this list also does well here in Middle Tennessee.

Perennials that deer frequently damage are daylilies and hostas. Seldom damaged perennials include Yarrow, Blue Star, Columbine, 'Powis Castle' Artemsia, Butterflyweed, Cast Iron Plant, False Indigo, Angel's Trumpet, Leadwort, Green and Gold, Blanket Flower, Lenten Rose, Red Hot Poker, Lantana, Bee Balm, Catmint, Russian Sage, Anise Sage, Lambs Ear, Society Garlic, and Prickly Pear

Of course there are more deer resistant plants. Check with your own extension service to find what deer resistant plants work in your area.

Annuals that deer frequently damage are celosia, impatiens, Sweet Potato, Johnny Jump Ups, and Pansies. Occasionally damaged are Flowering Kale, Sunflowers, Moss Rose, Purslane, and Mexican Sunflowers.

Occasionally damaged are Trumpet Vine, Goldflame Honeysuckle, Clumping Liriope, Virginia Creeper, and Japanese Wisteria.

Seldom damaged vines and groundcovers include Ajuga, Crossvine, Climbing fig, Carolina Jessamine, Junipers, Coral Honeysuckle, Patridgeberry, Mondo Grass, Cherokee Rose, Creeping Rosemary, Star Jasmine, Confederate Jasmine, Large Leaf Periwinkle (Vinca major) , and Periwinkle (Vinca minor).

Evergreen Shrubs seldom damaged include Abelia, Century Plant, Wintergreen Barberry, Japanese Boxwood, Plum Yew, Eleagnus, Yaupon, Anise Shrub, Chinese Juniper, Wax Myrtle, Oleander, Southern Yew, Rosemary, and Yucca

Landscape Trees are injured by deer in two ways. One way is by eating the foliage and twigs. Another way is to rub against the bark with their antlers. This is very damaging to young trees or those with thin bark. Wire cylinders and other protective devices are available to protect these trees from damage.

Trees most damaged are Redbuds, Atlantic White Cedar, Fringe Tee, Crapapples, Cherries and Plums,and Pears.

Seldom damaged trees include Red Buckeye, River Birch, Deodar Cedar, Ginkgo, Honey Locust, American Holly, Eastern Red Cedar, Crape Myrtle, Southern Magnolia, Sweetbay Magnolia, Black Gum, Pines, Live Oak, Bald Cypress, and Chastetree.

Divide your landscape into zones using the zeriscape concept. 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

Remember, even though these deer resistant plants are listed here, it doesn't mean your deer won't eat them. Sometimes the deer tastes changes from season to season-just like ours!

Good Luck!

For More Information:

View books about gardening with deer here

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