I love to garden, and I also love wildlife. The two go hand-in-hand. In fact, one of my favorite summer activities is sitting outside to enjoy my yard and garden while also watching wildlife, like birds and squirrels.
Unfortunately, the garden-wildlife dynamic isn’t always positive. My city has a very high deer population, and they can quickly eat their way through a garden.
I’ve learned a few things while trying to live in harmony with my native wildlife and keep deer from eating plants. Maybe these lessons can help you.
My First Encounter With Bambi The Plant Eater
I’ve been in the same house for about 20 years, but I haven’t always been an avid gardener. When we first moved in, I mostly left the beds as they were, did a little bit of weeding, and let my husband mow the lawn and put down a little fertilizer here and there.
My first foray into proper gardening was getting annuals to put in pots. Impatiens flowers and petunias are pretty easy to grow and among the best plants for container gardening, so my confidence was immediately bolstered at this early attempt. They thrived and bloomed for a month or so. I even learned how to pinch the impatiens and deadhead the petunias.
Then, one morning, most of the growth on my impatiens was gone. It looked like a weed whacker had taken off the tops. Checking the outside cameras, I saw the culprit: a young deer was munching on my container plants.
What Else Is On The Menu?
That first encounter was followed by many more. I learned quickly that deer have an extensive list of plants they’ll eat, even some claimed by internet sources to be “deer proof.” Part of the problem is that my city has a very high deer population. I don’t blame them. There’s only so much wild food left in the suburbs for them to eat.
So, this is a short list of what they have eaten in my yard so far:
- Tree bark
- Hostas
- Day lilies
- Sunflowers
- Coneflower
- Sweet potato vine
- Petunias
- Roses
Thank goodness, they’ve left my peonies alone because peonies aren't favored by deer. They also don’t seem to have a taste for the shrubs in my yard. They mostly eat annuals and perennials.
Mistakes I Made Trying to Outsmart My Hungry Foe
The biggest mistake I’ve made in trying to combat the plant-eating hordes of deer in my neighborhood is ignoring the problem. There were a few years where I got complacent. Everything seemed fine, and then in one night, the herd came through and mowed down several plants. They’re particularly into fresh perennial shoots in spring.
Another mistake I wouldn’t recommend making is insisting on growing plants you know the deer will find and eat. I love pots of impatiens. And, they’re usually fine for a month or two, but eventually the deer get to them. In spite of knowing better, I kept trying to grow them. It was more like putting out food for deer.
How I Manage To Live With Deer And A Nice Garden
Years of lessons and trial and error, and I still haven’t perfected the deer-proof garden. What I’ve learned through reading is that deer will eat just about anything green as long as it isn’t deeply poisonous. Needs must, as they say.
Three strategies have helped me to garden peacefully while living in a deer-rich neighborhood:
- Choose Plants Wisely. While deer will eat many plants, they like some better than others. I’ve finally admitted that some plants just don’t work in my garden. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for plants that deer are not likely to eat unless desperate. One of the things I’ve done to spruce up the garden in recent years is to find shade-loving plants for those shady corners of the yard. I have found that bleeding heart flowers and ferns are both great options for shade and plants that deer leave alone.
- Pair Plants Thoughtfully. Many of the plants deer avoid unless desperate are those with strong smells. I place my container-grown herbs around coleus and impatiens. I plant marigolds as companions for the hostas and daylilies. These pairings mostly keep the deer out of the plants they would otherwise eat.
- Use Deterrent Sprays. Plant pairings are not perfect for deterring deer, but with the addition of special sprays, it’s pretty foolproof. Deer deterrent sprays contain strong-smelling essential oils or garlic. The Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent from Ace Hardware is easy to use and effective. I spray the repellent on my most desirable plants and reapply frequently (especially after rain). It really helps keep the deer from eating them.
Deer will always be a part of this ecosystem in which I garden, and that’s ok. I don’t begrudge them their place in it. With trial and plenty of error, we have found peace together.
