Deer can wreak havoc on our landscapes. Luckily, there are many plant varieties that the deer do not like. To follow is everything you need to know when planning your deer resistant landscape:
Tips on deer and plants:
• No plant is completely deer-proof! When hungry, deer will eat anything to survive. During stressful times such as drought, plants that are usually avoided by deer can be damaged.
• Deer will eat almost anything in spring, as tender new growth emerges from plants. Deer prefer vegetation that is soft to the touch and high in water content. They especially like flower buds.
• Over fertilized and over watered plants are lush and look appealing to deer.
• Deer resistant does not mean completely deer proof.
There are some plants that deer just prefer not to eat.
Common characteristics of these plants include:
- Plants with thorny or prickly leaves or stems
- Plants with strong scents and pungent tastes, such as herbs
- Plants that are poisonous or produce thick sap
- Plants with hairy leaves
- Palms are very resistant to deer feeding
- Ornamental grasses i.e. Pampass Grass, Muhly Grass, and Fountain Grass are highly resistant to deer grazing
- Deer rarely graze on fern foliage
