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| Deer Resistant? Deer are eating my trees, shrubs and perennials. Is there a way to make my yard more deer resistant? Enchantment and frustration; those emotions smack into each other when gardeners see the lovely deer munching the plants in the yard.  Do you run for the camera, or start screaming "This garden is not your personal salad bar!”
Generally, deer will pass up the strong scented and very course texture plants. They might nibble a little here and there, but usually don't graze on them for long. Even plants listed as the "Deer Resistant Plants" are NOT 100% foolproof. We can't convince the deer to read the lists. Combining several different methods are required to keep them away from plants, particularly when winter is harsh, snow is plentiful and their food is scarce.
Animal Repellents? Do animal repellents work?
Virtually dozens of repellents have been tried by inventive and very desperate gardeners. They all work for a short while, but none works forever, because deer get accustomed to them. The trick is to switch repellents every few weeks. Spray plants regularly, depending on weather, and repeat after heavy rain. Ro-Pel and other commercial animal repellents work very well. But let me warn you, if you accidently get it in your mouth, it is the most vile bitter tasting stuff you will ever encounter. Before beginning, put a plastic bag over your hand to keep the repellent from dripping onto your skin. Better yet, two or three plastic bags would be better. Stand upwind of plants you are spraying; this spray also works to repel humans!
Other little helpful tricks to repel them: Bars of soap hanging in onion bags from tree branches. (Irish Spring is said to work best) Pet hair clumps scaterered through the area the deer frequently browse. Predetor urine including coyote, fox, pets, and yes human too! If you are able to check for tracks in the snow or mud, that can help determine their routine path into your yard. Hanging strips of cloth soaked in Repel will help deter them. Motion sensor sprinklers are are reported to work very well and can also be amusing when you see it in action. Most vulnerable plants that are frequently browsed like Arborvitae and Yews can be protected by wrapping with chicken wire fence and sturdy stakes or burlap wrapped around them for the winter months when deer do the most damage. Deer Resistant Trees, Shrubs & Roses American Holly
Andromeda ~ Pieris japonica ~Aucuba japonicaBarberry
Beauty Berry ~ Callicarpa ~Blue Spiraea ~ Caryopteris ~Blue Spruce ~ Picea pungens ~Bottlebrush Buckeye ~ Aesculus parviflora ~Boxwood ~ Buxus ~  Brooms ~ Cytisus and Genista ~
Butterfly Bush ~ Buddleia ~Chaste Tree ~ Vitex angus-castus ~Cherry Laurel ~ Prunus laurocerasus ~Cornelian cherry ~ Cornus mas ~CotoneasterCryptomeriaDaphne
Forsythia
Grape Holly ~ Mahonia ~Inkberry Holly ~ Ilex glabra ~Japanese MapleJapanese Plum Yew ~ Cephalotaxus ~Juniper - especially J. virginiana KerriaLeucothoeLilacs * except Miss Kim LilacMagnolias - deciduous speciesMiscanthus ~ Ornamental Grasses ~ Mountain Laurel ~ Kalmia latifolia ~
NandinaNorthern Bayberry ~ Myrica pensylvanica ~Norway Spruce ~ Picea abies ~Paw Paw ~ Asimina triloba ~Pee Gee Hydrangea ~ Hydrangea paniculata ~PotentillaRose of Sharon ~ Hibsicus syriacus ~Rugosa RosesSerbian Spruce ~ Picea omorika ~Serviceberry ~ Amelanchier ~Spicebush ~ Lindera benzoin ~Spiraeas - St. John’s Wort ~ Hypericum ~Sweet Box ~ Sarcococca ~
ViburnumSweetshrub ~ Calycanthus floridus ~Deer Resistant Perennials Achillea ~ Yarrow ~
Agastache
Amsonia tabernaemontana ~ Bluestar ~
Anemone sp.
Aquilegia ~ Columbine ~
Artemesia
Asclepias tuberosa ~ Butterfly Weed ~
Aster
Astilbe
Baptisia
Boltonia asteroides
Buddleia davidii ~ Butterfly Bush ~
Calamintha
Calluna ~ Heather ~
Campanula carpatica ~ Bellflower ~
Centaurea sp.
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Chrysanthemum x superbum ~ sometimes nipped~
Cimicifuga racemosa
Clematis
Coreopsis sp.
Delphinium
Echinacea purpurea ~ Purple Coneflower ~
Echinops
Erica ~ Heath ~
Eupatorium ~ Joe-Pye Weed ~
Euphorbia ~ Spurge~
Geranium ~ especially G. macrorrhizum~
Grasses, Ornamental
Gypsophila paniculata ~ Baby's Breath ~
Helenium
Iberis sempervirens
Iris sibirica
Iris, Bearded ~ buds sometimes eaten~
Lavandula ~ Lavender ~
Liatris spicata ~ Gayfeather ~
Linum perenne
Lupinus
Monarda ~ Bee Balm ~
Nepeta ~ Catmint ~
Oenothera ~ Evening Primrose ~
Paeonia ~ Peony ~
Perovskia ~ Russian Sage ~
Platycodon grandiflorus ~ Balloon Flower ~
Potentilla sp.
Rosmarinus officinalis ~ Rosemary ~
Salvia sp.
Solidago ~ Goldenrod ~
Stachys byzantinus ~ Lamb's Ears ~
Thymus ~ Thyme ~
Verbascum sp ~ Mullein ~
Veronica latifolia
Wisteria
Yucca | |
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