Deer Control & Deer-Resistant Plants
Deer can cause significant feeding damage to plants in the landscape, but there are several things that can be done to deter them.
Barriers
The most effective way to keep deer out is with a sturdy fence at least 8 feet high, but it can be costly to install and aesthetically less desirable. A wire fence can help keep deer out of smaller areas such as a vegetable garden.
Deer Repellants
Another option is to use a deer repellent, which is a liquid spray or granular with an unpleasant odor that deer avoid when they smell it. We have a variety to choose from including, Bonide Repels-All, Bonide GO AWAY Deer & Rabbit Repellent, Bonide Go Away Scent-inal Deer Repellent System, and Plantskydd. Deer can eventually become accustomed to the scent of one spray, so it is recommended to use a different repellent every few weeks. Repellents must be reapplied regularly for continued protection, and must be reapplied after rainfall. Always read and follow label instructions.
Deer-Resistant Plants
Some plants are less desirable to deer than others, so it’s helpful to plant these instead of their favorites. Oftentimes, they avoid plants with a strong scent, fuzzy leaves, or are prickly. Keep in mind that no plant is truly deer-proof; they will eat almost anything if they become hungry enough.
Perennials | |
---|---|
Botanical Name | Common Name |
Achillea | Yarrow |
Acontium | Mookshood |
Anemone | Windflower |
Anemone x hybrida | Japanese Anemone |
Aquilegia | Columbine |
Arabis | Rockcress |
Arisaema Triphyllum | Jack-in-the-Pulpit |
Asclepias | Butterfly Weed |
Astilbe | False Spiraea |
Bergenia | Bergenia |
Convallaria majalis | Lily of the Valley |
Coreopsis | Tickseed |
Dicentra spectabilis | Bleeding Heart |
Digitalis | Foxglove |
Echinacea | Purple Cone Flower |
Epimedium | Barrenwort |
Euphorbia | Spurge |
Ferns | Ferns |
Galium oderatum | Sweet Woodruff |
Helleborus | Lenten Rose |
Iberis sempervirens | Candytuft |
Lamium maculatum | Deadnettle |
Lavandula | Lavender |
Linaria vulgaris | Toadflax |
Lychnis coronaria | Rose Campion |
Ornamental grasses | |
Papaver orientale | Oriental Poppy |
Perovskia atriplicifolia | Russian Sage |
Polygonatum commutatum | Solomon's Seal |
Pulmonaria | Lungwort |
Rheum rhabarbarum | Rhubarb |
Rudbeckia | Black-Eyed Susan |
Salvia | Meadow Sage |
Santolina Chamaecyparissus | Lavender Cotton |
Sedum spectabile | |
Stachys byzantina | Lamb's Ear |
Thymus | Thyme |
Tiarella | Foam Flower |
Veronica | Speedwell |
Trees, Shrubs, & Vines | |
Botanical Name | Common Name |
Amelanchier | Serviceberry |
Berberis | Barberry |
Buxus | Boxwood |
Caryopteris | Caryopteris |
Chamaecyparis pisifera | Japanese False Cypress |
Daphne | Daphne |
Hibiscus syriacus | Rose of Sharon |
Ilex verticillata | Winterberry |
Juniperus | Junipers |
Ligustrum vulgare | European Privet |
Picea pungens glauca | Colorado Blue Spruce |
Annuals | |
Botanical Name | Common Name |
Ageratum houstonianum | Ageratum |
Anethum graveolens | Common Dill |
Antirrhunum majus | Snapdragon |
Euphorbia | Spurge |
Lavandula | Lavender |
Lobularia maritima | Sweet Alyssum |
Nicotiana | Flowering Tobacco |
Pelargonium | Scented Geranium |
Salvia | Sage |
Santolina chamaecyparissus | Lavender Cotton |
Tagetes | Marigold |
Tanacetum vulgare | Common Tansy |
Thymus | Thyme |
Tropaeolum majus | Nasturtium |
Bulbs | |
Botanical Name | Common Name |
Allium | Onion |
Daffodil | Daffodil |
Fritillaria | Fritillaries |