Maybe you see deer as venison-on-the-hoof, one step ahead of the freezer. Or maybe you see deer as sweet little Bambis. Whatever your viewpoint, the one place you don't want to see deer is chomping on your cherished trees and shrubs.
So what can you do if you want to make your property "deerproof"?
The answer, I'm sorry to say, is "Not much." Of course, you can always build a high sturdy fence all around your land, but for the most part that is impractical, not to mention expensive and unsightly. But the truth is that virtually no plant is really deerproof. In times of scarcity, deer will eat just about anything that grows. But you can take a few precautions to put the odds in your favor.
If deer are a problem in your area, it makes sense to avoid planting shrubs that are likely to attract deer. Not surprisingly, deer particularly enjoy eating plants that are high in water content and are soft to the touch. Their idea of a great salad would be those tasty buds on your rhododendrons and rose bushes, so if your landscaping consists of a high proportion of those plants, you're providing gourmet grazing. Build sturdy cages around these and any other plants that seem to be popular with your local deer population.
The best defense is to plant trees and shrubs that are less palatable to deer. As a general rule, spiny or thorny plants tend to go uneaten. A good choice would be Holly, Barberry or Colorado Spruce. Deer also seem to avoid trees and shrubs that have a strong or distinctive taste such as Marigold and Boxwood.
Among the herbaceous plants, in my experience, deer will rarely eat ferns, chrysanthemum, lily-of- the-valley, lavender, iris, lupine, foxglove or narcissus. But, again, I must stress the fact that while these plants are less likely to be eaten by deer, none of them will be truly "off limits" to a really hungry deer.
Trees with a high canopy usually go unscathed for the simple reason that deer cannot reach the leaves, however tempting they might look. However, the bark of younger trees can be damaged by deer rubbing their antlers on the trunk. You can protect young trees with tree wrap. In the Fall, wind the tree wrap around the trunk from root to the lowest branches and leave it on until the end of Spring.
As for deer repellants, I know people who swear by their favorite concoctions: everything from bags of human hair, to used cat litter, to bars of strong-smelling soap suspended from tree branches. And there's a commercial product you can use called Repellex. If one of these remedies works for you, then stick with it!
The Plant Man is here to help. Send your questions about trees, shrubs and landscaping to The Plant Man or mail to: Steve Jones, "The Plant Man", P.O. Box 686, McMinnville, TN 37111. For resources and additional information, including archived columns, visit www.landsteward.org
QUESTION: We recently moved into our new home which is part of a new development. It all looks pretty raw and there aren't many trees on our lot, and we miss them, having moved from a more established neighborhood. What would you suggest we plant? We'd want something fairly fast growing as well as attractive.
ANSWER: The size of your lot will determine what you can or cannot plant. There are many fast growing trees such as the red maple varieties. Take a look at Hybrid Willows and Hybrid Poplars if you are looking for a screen that will grow quickly and look attractive. And I'd recommend ornamental grasses for texture, and some holly or evergreen shrubs for foundation plantings. As your question indicates, adding some suitable trees and shrubs is the most effective way of giving your new home an "established" look. To contact Steve Jones with your comments and questions, send e-mail to steve@landsteward.org
