A Garden Tail: How To Protect Plants
From Deer Browsing
Many gardeners want to know how to protect plants from deer browsing year-round. It starts in the spring with buds on trees, tulips breaking ground, and grasses coming to life. By summer, annuals and vegetables disappeared overnight. Daylilies bloomed only to have every flower and bud vanish by the next morning. Consequently, come fall, varieties untouched all summer received a “good trimming.”
By winter, Bloomin Fool realized the only holly deer won’t touch is American Holly (Ilex opaca). Newly planted Blue Holly (Ilex x meserveae) and Variegated English Holly (Ilex aquifolium ‘Variegata’) were fine until just before Christmas. However, at that point, “Deer Santa” took them down to the ground. This discovery inspired the painting Deer Santa Eating Holly 1.0.
Deterrents and Defense Bloomin Fool uses Liquid Fence during spring, summer, and fall. Unfortunately, rain and time reduce its effectiveness quickly, and the smell can dampen a garden party. Nice-smelling soaps, oils, coyote urine, and human hair have all failed. In fact, the deer even seem to like the fragrances.
Crucially, you cannot spray repellent in the dead of winter, yet deer eat all year. A friend swears by the Patriot Electric Fence Kit. Specifically, Bloomin Fool plans to test this once the snow melts.
Plants Deer Avoid by Season If you are looking for how to protect plants from deer, selecting the right species is vital.
- Winter: Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens), Norway Spruce (Picea abies), Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo), American Holly (Ilex opaca), Japanese Pieris (Pieris japonica), Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
- Spring: Hellebore (Helleborus), Peony (Paeonia), Daffodils (Narcissus), Poppy (Papaver), Allium (Allium)
- Summer: Butterfly Bush (Buddleja), Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), Digitalis (Digitalis purpurea), Cleome (Cleome hassleriana), Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides), Most Ornamental Grasses (e.g., Miscanthus, Panicum)
- Fall: All bets are off as deer fatten up. Annuals are primary targets.
Note: In fall, male deer rub antlers on small trees and shrubs, stripping the bark. Bloomin Fool has used Spectracide Pruning Seal to save wounded trees, though they rarely fully recover.
The Final Solution Deer may eat anything at any time. The only truly effective solution is fencing at least six feet high. Fortunately, deer do not dig under or slip through small gaps in gates.
For saplings outside the fence, Bloomin Fool encourages using trunk protectors. Options range from polyethylene foam pipe insulation to PVC-coated wire fencing, a favorite of Bloomin Fool. Additionally, check these materials often. Bloomin Fool has seen trees grow into the very fencing meant to protect them. Lesson learned.
For more information about deer, Bloomin Fool uses the Penn State Master Gardener Program as a resource for all things gardening related.
The original painting is sold. To purchase open edition prints visit Saatchi Art. For specialized merchandise, visit Fine Art America.