An informed approach for a deer-free garden +

Deer in the United States

Five species of deer are found in the Unites States. Caribou inhabit only a small portion of Idaho; the rest stay up in Canada. The moose calls home to most of Alaska, much of northern New England, the top half of Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, the UP of Michigan, and the upper Rocky Mountains. The mule deer and elk hold down the fort in the western states. And let’s not forget the state of Hawaii where, technically, lives the 6th species of deer found in the United States. It is called the Chital, aka the axis deer, native to the Indian subcontinent. Have you heard of the black-tail deer? It populates Hawaii and much of the Pacific coast woodlands and is a subspecies of the mule deer. However, the species Tennesseans are most familiar with, white-tail deer has a substantial population in most of the lower 48, with most of that population being east of the Rockies.

There are over 30 subspecies of whitetail deer, which has a medium build, and a wide native range of the U.S, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America. It has been introduced to an even wider range, from Cuba to New Zealand. Whitetail deer is the most widely distributed hoofed animal in all the Americas. They can live between 12 and 16 years in the wild, though it is uncommon to find one over 7 years of age, which is best determined by studying one’s teeth, and not, as is popularly thought with bucks, the antlers. In the early 20th century, the whitetail deer were nearly wiped out in Tennessee (an estimated 2,000 deer were reported in the 1940s) due to over-hunting them for meat and hides. Currently, the state’s deer population ranges from 600,000 - 900,00 from year to year.

As we gardeners are acutely aware, deer enjoy snacking; they are grazers. Their foods of choice are young vegetation, flower buds, twigs of trees and shrubs, acorns, fruits, and most vegetables. Deer have a keen sense of what plants - and plant parts - have the most nutritional value, always opting for recently fertilized material when available.

Cute and marketing abounds for labeling plants with various degrees of deer resistance, making use of clever puns and creating cartoon-like images of the hungry deer with both knife and fork in hand (deer would never use cutlery!) Lists upon lists are commonly found in gardening magazines and reference books of plants that deer won’t touch. However, let’s be real. Are any plants deer-proof?

This article provides information on what plant characteristics are unattractive to deer so that you, the gardener, can feel confident when purchasing and installing plants with or without the aid of plant marketing tactics. It will also give you a better understanding of why the pretense of deer-resistant plants does not always hold true. Lastly, this article will explore methods of deer deterrents proven to work (most of the time).

It is a timely topic to discuss presently, since fall is the season when most deer activity occurs in our landscapes. The summer here in the southeast is long and often very dry. When fall gives its reprieve, deer take advantage of the higher water content available in the plant material found within their surroundings, especially tender new growth. Tracking a pattern of deer’s diet choices is not easy because of the inconsistent food selections they make. The choices they make involve various factors such as how hungry they are as well as the abundance and diversity of edibles in your yard. There are 4 main reasons deer will abstain from certain plant groups. Below are those reasons along with corresponding plant lists.

Poison

Plants that deer tend to stay clear of are those they understand to be harmful. Plants containing a substantial level of toxicity, like monkshood, poppy, foxglove, and castor oil plant can be considered maximum level secure from the deer’s plate. Plants that produce a milky sap such as conferderate jasmine, milkweed, and euphorbias are not a favorite because the sap is caustic.

• Milkweed

• Euphorbia

• Brugmansia

• Datura

• Monkshood

• Foxglove

• Castor bean

• Bulbs like Narcissus, Hyacinth, Autumn Crocus, and Star of Bethlehem

Plants are installed, now what?

Once the garden is fortified with plants that are not on the deer’s top menu, perhaps you’d like to take a few extra precautions. Fencing around your garden area is a good way to keep your plants safe. Even better than an 8’ high fence is a 4’ high fence angled at 45° because deer have difficulty gauging depths. Temporary fencing around individual trees and shrubs can be unsightly, but effective. Other unsightly, even goofy-looking, but considerably effective tactics include hanging tin pans and bars of soap in strategic areas around the landscape. Deer will be spooked by the sound the tins make and they will associate the soap scent with humans. Liquid deer deterrents work by creating an unpleasant odor and taste to the general area and plants. Coyote urine can be found in either granules or liquid form. This product signals that a predator is in the vicinity.

Taking an informed and holistic approach to address deer eating your garden will guarantee positive results. This may involve experimentation and trying combinations of strategies, but if you are vigilant, the bountiful garden will be your reward.

A brave fawn at Edwin Warner Park

Texture

The third group of plants that deer are not big fans of are those plants that possess fuzzy, spiny, or tough foliage. It makes sense, who wants to eat an overdone hockey puck of a steak or okra that was harvested too late and has become fibrous in texture? Not too many folks, but, again, if the hunger strikes and there’s nothing else…

• Camellias

• Rhododendrons

• Privet

• Ceanothus

• Palms

• Eryngium (sea holly)

• Echium

• Globe thistle

• Tibouchina

• Rudbeckia

• Quince

• Mahonia

• Hellebore

• Osmanthus

• Barberry

Natives (well, some)

Natives are certainly not a foolproof way to go when selecting plants for deer resistance, but they are a group to take into consideration. Being native plants, these are obviously the natural food source for deer. However, plants are smart, too, and because these natives have had to live side by side deer for so long, many have built up various levels of toxicity to protect themselves from being eaten by wildlife. The natives least susceptible to deer damage are ones that have acquired some level of toxicity, but also those that have developed the qualities like strong fragrance and spiny textures to deter deer.

• Butterfly weed

• Eastern bee balm

• Yaupon Holly

• Gelsemium

• Kalmia

• Buckeye

Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel)

Fragrance

Deer have a rather bland palate and therefore lack the appreciation for rich garden aromas signature to our favorite herbs. Note that fragrant leaves are move of a deterrent than fragrant blooms would be. The level of deer resistance to these plants is slightly less than the first group. Depending on what you have available in your garden, these plants may get a nibble, especially if there are new shoots.

• Agastache

• Oregano

• Rosemary

• Sage

• Salvia

• Garlic

• Lantana

• Lavender

• Marigold

• Mint