How often have you heard, “They will eat anything if they are hungry enough?” This is true. Even people who know little to nothing about deer, know this to be true.
As the populations grow and grow, the need for food grows too. You can’t “deer-proof.” but you can “deer-deter.”
For the most part, deer don’t like plants that smell, such as rosemary, lavender, garlic. Nor do they like plants with textured leaves such as lambs’ ear and Russian sage, or those that have needles such as conifers, and thorns such as Bougainvillea.
A regular spraying with a natural repellent such as imustgarden is also helpful. Many will not wash off with rain or irrigation; but remember to spray new growth as it emerges.
Deer can be fenced out, but they are also very good jumpers. If deer are a problem in your area, enclose your garden with a strong sturdy fence at least 8 feet high.
There are certain plants if you plant, they will come…hostas for one. They just love those tasty leaves.
In summary, its best to plant the plants whey don’t like; but remember, deer will eat anything if they are hungry enough…
Yes, in February 2009, the deer gave my yucca a Bart Simpson flat-top trim. This year, they left it alone. When hungry enough, they’ll eat the brick off your house (just kidding).
I use the term “deer resistant”, but my garden is “deer tolerant” meaning that even with a bit of browsing and sampling, they don’t destroy my enjoyment of the plant during its peak season.
A double fence is supposed to help, as well, and you don’t have to go as high. And if you put your dogs in between the two fences, I doubt a deer will jump it.
That’s our plan, anyway. Currently, our garden is in the middle of a deer run, even without anything planted.
We are lucky in that we have only a one from time to time…and they prefer my neighbors hostas than anything in my garden. Not sure she knows yet why her hostas look like they do.
We leased a bit of land to some people that are growing pond plants…there is no real fencing on our acreage. The pond people put up a one strand “fence” of heavy duty fishing line at about 4′ off the ground and have a motion activated jet sprinkler. So far so good…no deer for them in the year that they have been with us.
The raccoons however still like to wash their hands in the ponds.