The Buck Stops Here

Deer are a fact of life for gardeners in the Triangle. Nearby landscape developments have resulted in habitat loss causing deer to damage more homeowners’ landscaping than ever before. The definitive deterrent of installing an eight foot high fence that extends below ground and is electrified at the top, is not only cost prohibitive, but can be unsightly as well as impractical. Some people have resorted to placing black netting around plants. That often causes more plant and animal damage than anticipated. Others just give up. As a Landscape Designer of the family run Dickinson Garden Center in Chapel Hill, I can offer some tips on how to successfully garden with deer in mind.
Are there any plants that are deer proof? Not really. If hungry enough, deer will eat anything! There are, however, many

With the careful introduction of deer resistant plants into your existing landscape you can reduce the time spent in preventing deer damage. Given a choice, deer tend to stay away from succulent, pungent or bitter flavored plants, as well as plants with hairy or furry leaves. They also avoid poisonous plants.
Regardless of how many deer resistant plants you may grow, it seems deer will find the one flower or plant that is not deer resistant in your garden. Deer have been known to nose-aside mulch, leaves and mesh to nibble on the new growth of such favorites as daylilies and hostas. So don’t fool yourself into thinking deer won’t find your pansies if surrounded by the herb rosemary. They will. A list of some deer resistant plants follows.
How do you successfully grow the plants both you and the deer love? One easy solution is to spray the plants with a deer repellent spray such as I Must Garden’s Deer Repellent. This has become...

plants that are “deer resistant.” Studies have shown that deer may consume over 100 different plant species in a given location. The plants consumed can vary with the nutritional and seasonal needs of the deer. Browsing can be more severe during the winter when there is reduced food availability. Under these circumstances, deer will browse on even the most undesirable plants. In milder years, deer may be much more selective in their tastes. In addition, a plant that is deer resistant in one area may be a gourmet treat in another. This can also vary from season to season. Deer may suddenly decide to eat something that they left alone the year before. The underlying rule is that there is no rule.
But you don’t have to give up. Frustration from deer damage can be reduced by combining thoughtful plant selection and by spraying an effective repellent.