Deer Resistant Gardening
Perhaps nothing challenges home gardeners more than creating a truly deer-resistant landscape. Deer will sample almost anything—especially in spring when new growth is tender, and in fall and winter when natural food dries up or disappears.
To make it trickier, what deer ignore in one neighborhood may be devoured in another. Local herd behavior, pressure, and the availability of natural forage all influence how often deer venture into residential areas. That said, some plants are consistently less “desirable” than others.
Build a garden that’s appealing to you—but confusing, unpleasant, or not worth the effort for deer.
Use “camouflage” and scent barriers
One of the most effective strategies is to “camouflage” your garden by using plants with natural characteristics that discourage browsing. Strongly aromatic plants—shrubs and herbs in particular—can act as a scent barrier. Deer rely heavily on smell to decide what’s safe or tasty. When a garden contains many strong, mixed scents, deer have a harder time identifying preferred plants and often move on to an easier food source.
Choose plants deer tend to avoid
Deer are opportunistic, but they’re also lazy. If the first plants they encounter are unpleasant, many will skip the area entirely. Deer are less likely to browse plants that are:
- Bitter tasting
- Coarse, tough, hairy, or prickly
- Resinous or sticky
- Full of milky sap when broken
These plants may still be eaten if deer are desperate, but they’re typically lower on the menu. Another practical approach is to include plants that grow quickly and recover well from occasional nibbling.
Protect young trees from browsing and rubbing
Deer damage young trees in two main ways. They may browse foliage up to the “browse line” (often around 6 feet high), and bucks may rub their antlers on trunks—especially trees under about 3 inches in diameter.
If deer pressure is high, consider planting more mature trees or protecting trunks with a wire cage (or other physical barrier). Repellents can also help during the establishment period, but physical protection is the most reliable.
Repellents: useful short-term support
Until you’ve transitioned to a more deer-resistant plant palette, non-toxic repellents can help. Some products work by making plants smell unpleasant. Others use predator scents to make the area feel unsafe. A third type makes foliage taste bad.
Repellents work best when applied consistently and occasionally rotated. The goal is to teach deer that your yard isn’t worth the trouble. (Keep in mind: new deer can replace old ones, which is why long-term success usually comes from plant selection and layout.)
Want help planning a deer-resistant garden?
Stop by and one of our nursery experts can help you select plants you’ll love—and deer will be far less likely to browse.