Out on the lawn there arose a great clatter. One scarcely had time to see what was the matter. And then in a flash, there was noise on the porch — the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. Springing from the bed, we ran out the door. Horror of horrors, they had eaten the flora. Before I could fall, I managed to yell, “Go away, go away; we don’t want deer at all!” *

Few things frustrate a gardener more than finding dear treating the landscape like an all-you-can-eat buffet. While wildlife can be beautiful to behold, a shrinking natural habitat means increased browsing pressure on local gardens. Don’t despair; it’s possible to design a landscape that deer prefer to avoid. While no plant is completely deer-proof, the right combination of plant choices, physical barriers and smart gardening practices better enables residents to peacefully coexist with deer.

First, understand behavior. Deer browse selectively, choosing tender, moist and nutrient-rich (heavily fertilized) plants first. New growth, lush annuals and the plants in irrigated beds are especially attractive. In fall and winter deer become less picky, widening their menu when natural food is scarce. To design a “deer-resistant” garden you’ll need to adopt several strategies, such as growing plants that are less desirable to deer and adding deterrents.

While hungry deer eat most anything, they prefer to avoid plants that are smelly, prickly, fuzzy, bitter, resinous or fibrous. Examples include zinnias, sages, rosemary, Texas betony, lantana and Mexican feather grass.

Fencing is the most reliable deer barrier. To be effective, a single deer fence must be 7-8 feet tall. Also, two short fences spaced 3-4 feet apart will confuse and deter deer, which makes this type of barrier great for vegetable gardens. For fencing, select black-coated welded wire or polypropylene mesh to better blend into the landscape. Electric fencing is useful for small orchards or vegetable plots. Gardeners often use tinfoil and peanut butter to “bait the wire”, which helps train deer to avoid the fence. Additionally, surround young trees, roses and vulnerable perennials with welded wire cages until the plants are well established.

Products that use scent as a deterrent temporarily reduce browsing. Scented products must be reapplied after rain. Rotating products with different scents helps prevent deer from acclimatizing to one scent. Deer also become used to motion-activated sprinklers, sounds or lights. These are best used as part of a layered approach, but they are not very effective on their own. Also, strongly scented plants such as rosemary, lavender, marigolds and salvias sometimes discourage deer when planted around the perimeter of a property.

Smart planting strategies include: 1) Create a distraction zone by planting something appealing, such as native shrubs and wildflowers, farther from the ornamental plants you wish to protect; 2) Place deer favorites close to areas with human activity, such as patios and buildings, because deer are less comfortable browsing next to people; and 3) Layer your borders with highly resistant plants (fragrant, fuzzy, etc.) planted to the outside of the border and more vulnerable plants to the inside.

Also, 4) Vary the garden terrain, making entry difficult. Deer don’t like uneven terrain, such as berms, which can also block views of tasty plants. They prefer sturdy footing and avoid steps and rocky surfaces; 5) Hide your garden by placing tall shrubs inside of fencing to obscure views. Use evergreens not favored by deer and mix species to better hide damage if it occurs; 5) Combine fragrant, prickly and leathery plants, intentionally creating a multisensory deterrence; 6) Avoid excess fertilizer and use slow-release fertilizer or compost instead. Over fertilized plants grow soft, succulent foliage — a deer delicacy; 7) Plant in masses. Deer are more likely to pass by a large swath of unappealing plants rather than a single specimen; 8) Limb up fruit trees; and 9) Keep underbrush to a minimum so deer can’t hide.

*Inspired by “Twas The Night Before Christmas”

Written and Photographed by LGMG Phyllis Webster