Show #19/6006. Deer In The Garden

Design Considerations With Deer In Mind

What are the design considerations needed to give that garden the best shot at surviving the onslaught of deer? First, Cynthia needs to know the neighborhood. Is it one of the neighborhoods that has more deer pressure? Generally, the older neighborhoods have more deer pressure. Then one needs to identify the safest places in the garden and the most vulnerable places in the garden. You want to put your more deer resistant plants out on the fringes where the deer will feel safe because they can jump back into the woodland. Deer don’t like fuzzy leaves, they don't like any plant with a scent. Herbs are more deer resistant. A lot of plants have a fragrance. If you crush the leaf of a plant and it has a fragrance, they generally don't like that, it may be it has some chemical in it that's a little toxic to them.

Cynthia has many boulders spread throughout the garden. Cynthia believes that a strategically placed stone is also a good form of deer control. Boulders can be a cheap addition to a garden in terms of maintenance, you don't have to fertilize, you don't have to spray it, it looks beautiful, it grows lichens. Eric believes that simply put, we’re looking at the right plant, in the right place. Position plants that deer don't like to eat close to plants that deer do like, such as hostas, which we know they love.

Also, have a small part of your garden fenced, make a safe place, put plants attractive to deer inside the wire fence. A lot of homes in Big Canoe have one corner of their garden slightly fenced and that provides a place where they can have their favorite-grandmother's rose, as an example.