Many people around the country have problems with various pests disturbing their plants and gardens on their property. The most destructive and widespread of these is deer. The biggest problem with deer is that they will eat just about anything, even plants that are considered deer-resistant will sometime be eaten when food is scarce and deer numbers are high. The other problem is that when they find a food source they like, they will keep coming back.
There are very few plants that are truly deer-proof. You should call your local nursery to get a list of deer resistant plants for your area and begin replacing plants in your landscaping that have been eaten by deer with less flavorful ones. These will include plants that are poisonous to deer and many plants that are native to your area. If a native plant exists in your area, it must be because the plant has some mechanism that makes it distasteful to deer. But even plants that can sicken deer will be eaten in times of drought.
Flowering spring bulbs are one of their favorite foods, especially tulips. Roses are another favorite, as their flowers are edible.
A list of deer-resistant plants is included at the end of this article.
Fencing and other Techniques
There are other options to keep deer off of your property, the primary solution is fencing. Deer can leap over fences more than 6 feet high, so if you are willing to install a fence that’s 7 or 8 feet in height around your whole yard, that would be the most effective plan of action.
Most people don’t want to look at a fence that high; also there are considerations with local ordinances and neighbors.
You may want to install an electric fence if you have a large piece of property, but this is not suggested in residential areas where children and dogs are outside.
Dogs will deter deer from coming near your yard, but at night they still may come around; however, the scent of the dog may be enough to keep them away on a consistent basis.
Spray a commercial deer-repellant on things the deer like to eat. You may need to reapply it every time it rains and after significant plant growth. You can also make your own deer-repellent spray with eggs and water and cayenne pepper. A mixture of 4 parts water to 1 part egg will allow the spray to adhere to the plants and adding a tablespoon of cayenne will make the plant distasteful.
Cook garlic and hot peppers in water, and strain and spray the liquid on plants after it has cooled.
Some people feel that hanging bags of human hair will keep deer away due to the scent, but I have not found this to be the case, especially in residential areas where people are everywhere.
You can install motion-activated water sprinklers that will come on when they sense movement. They will be activated upon movement from any animal, so this will scare away squirrels, raccoons, and birds as well. The deer may also become accustomed to the placement and once they feel that it poses no threat, they will be back.
Buck rub is a very destructive form of damage that occurs in late summer and fall when bucks are rubbing the velvet off of their antlers. They can strip the bark off the tree from 2 to 4 feet above the ground. This allows insects to get inside the bark layer and destroys the sap wood that the tree needs to transfer nutrients and water from the ground up to the leaves. You can prevent this by either wrapping the tree with a commercial tree wrap, or a better option would be to cut strips of cardboard that can encircle the trunk and tying it with string. This only needs to be done on trees whose caliper is less than 6 to 8 inches. Deer like to rub their antlers on saplings and flexible trees and don’t usually bother larger trees.
Plant Selection
By creating your garden from these choices you will minimize the affect deer have on your garden. The following lists include numerous plants, but your local nursery or agricultural agency may be able to suggest additional choices that are suitable for where you live. Some plants may not be suitable in your part of the country.
Deciduous Trees
Willows (Salix sp.)
Birches (Betula sp.)
Sumacs (Rhus sp.)
Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia)
Evergreen Trees
Junipers (Juniperus sp.)
Spruces (Picea sp.)
Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Western red-cedar (Thuja plicata)
Hemlocks (Tsuga sp.)
Bay (Umbellularia californica)
Pines (Pinus sp.)
Fir (Abies sp.)
False cypress (Chamaecyparis sp.)
Tan Oak (Lithocarpus densiflorus)
Evergreen Shrubs
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
Juniper (Juniperus sp.)
Mountain-laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
Evergreen bayberry (Berberis sp.)
Oregon-boxwood (Pachystima myrsinites)
Rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.)
Evergreen Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)
Manzanita (Arctostaphylos sp.)
Wax-Myrtle (Myrica californica)
Deciduous Shrubs
Hazelnut (Corylus sp.)
Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)
Wild Gooseberry (Ribes sp.)
Wild Rose (Rosa sp.)
Spirea (Spiraea sp.)
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos sp.)
Lilac (Syringa sp.)
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
Potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa)
Perennial Flowers
Daisy (Chrysanthemum maximum)
Bleeding Heart (Dicentra sp.)
Yarrow (Achillea sp.)
Daylily (Hemerocallis sp.)
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia sp.)
Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium sp.)
Globe Thistle (Echinops exaltus)
Snow-in-summer (Cerastium tomentosum)
Rockcress (Arabis sp.)
Wallflower (Erysimum sp.)
Lupine (Lupinus sp.)
Baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata)
Lungwort (Pulmonaria sp.)
Poppy (Papaver sp.)
Ground Covers
Kinnikinnik (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Heather (Erica sp.)
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria sp.)
Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)
Annual Flowers
Lithodora (Lithodora diffusa)
Trailing raspberry (Rubus pedatus)
Trailing rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Annual Flowers
California Poppy (Eschscholtzia californica)
Larkspur (Consolida ambigua)
Clarkia (Clarkia sp.)
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Geranium (Pelargonium sp.)
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritime)
Zinnia (Zinnia sp.)
Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum)
Garden Herbs
Catmint (Nepeta sp.)
Bee balm (Monarda didyma)
Garden chive (Allium schoenoprasum)
Garlic chive (Allium tuberosum)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Lavender (Lavendula sp.)
Garden Mint (Mentha sp.)
Hyssop (Hyssopsis officinalis)
Thyme (Thymus sp.)
Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
Source: http://www.wildernesscollege.com/list-of-deer-resistant-plants.html
Although you won’t be able to stop deer damage to your yard, trees, flowers, and shrubs completely, you should be able to minimize the damage to only a few of your most tasty plants. Then you will be able to replace them and force the deer in your area to feed elsewhere.
