If you have tried different ways to keep deer out of your garden, none of them are effective or powerful enough to discourage them. Try growing plants that won’t attract them.
We asked the experts about deer-resistant plants. Some of the recommended species include:
- Lavender
- Daffodils
- Poppies
Read through our article to find out more!
Alex Williams from Greenery Guide
Lavender
This is my favorite, the deer-resistant plants that my mother planted. It gives off a lovely, strong scent, which is what deters the deer.
Lavender does best in an area that gets full sun with well-draining soil. And you can’t overwater it. Instead, you have to wait until the soil is practically dry for the best results.
Overall, lavender is relatively low maintenance since you only have to do minimal pruning, typically right after it blooms.
Peonies
Like lavender, peonies thrive in full sun with well-draining soil and give off a strong scent that deters deer. When you plant peonies, they don’t need much fertilizer to do well.
One thing you should know about peonies is that when they bloom, the flower is quite large compared to the stem. So, there can be some structural issues with the stem supporting the bloom. You may have to invest in some three-legged metal peony rings to help them along.
Ryan Smith from Ant and Garden Organic Pest Control
Coneflower
This flower can tolerate heat very well and can thrive under full sun or partial shade.
Floss flower
This flower can tolerate the shade. Thanks to its rough leaves, you can keep deer away.
Dan Bailey from WikiLawn
Daffodils
They’re easy to grow in the season, attractive flowers that can match with nearly any landscaping, and they multiply easily, spreading seeds far and wide. This will give you a whole garden full of deer-repellant flowers.
The best thing is that daffodils are also reviled by rabbits and squirrels, 2 other common garden pests. Most animals don’t like the milky sap daffodils produce, and it puts them off the area.
When considering deer-resistant plants, it’s essential to know that not every plant you’ll find on a list is toxic to deer. Deers will avoid those outright and you’ll never have a problem with deer munching on them.
Other plants, however, will just be avoided if there are plentiful food sources otherwise. These are tricky plants to eat/digest or are just not preferred by the deer in your area.
Your best bet is to look at plants with thorns, an unpleasant texture, or a strong scent. If you know the plant has a bitter taste, that will likely be a deer deterrent as well.
The scent is a powerful deterrent, so you can potentially line your garden with strong-smelling herbs like sage to keep deer out.
Plants toxic to deer include poppies, daffodils, and foxglove. It’s important to note that these plants are not likely to kill a curious deer.
They won’t eat them in great enough quantities. It will make them sick, however, and that will make them avoid your garden.
Melanie Musson from HomeInsuranceReviews.com
Poppies
Deer can level a garden in 1 night, so a careful selection of flowers can make the difference between a beautiful, vibrant flowerbed and a patch of dirt.
Often, flowers that grow in the wild survive because deer don’t eat them, so many wildflowers will grow beautifully in your garden. Deer won’t bother poppies.
Because wildflowers thrive with no care except that provided by nature, they’re easy plants to grow. You may need to water them occasionally, depending on your climate, and if you want them to bloom again, you should cut or pinch off dead blossoms, but other than that, you can let them be.
Irises
For spring bulbs that deer won’t devour, try irises. Bulbs do best when planted in the fall when the days are cold, but the ground hasn’t frozen solid yet.
They need cool temperatures, so they become dormant, then in spring, the warmth wakes them out of dormancy, and they’ll grow.
Spring bulbs will only bloom once a year. After they bloom, let their leaves grow so they can store energy for next spring, but once the leaves lose their vivid color and look dry, you can cut, tie, or mow them down.
Bleeding hearts
These flowers are beautiful choices for a garden because they come up every year and feature some of the most exquisitely beautiful flowers. They only bloom once a year, but their foliage usually lasts all summer.
In the fall, you should cut down the dead stalks because the roots will start fresh in the spring, and the dead foliage looks messy and will get in the way.
Lianne Sanders from Total Shape
Marigold
Any variety of Marigold scares deers away, thanks to their strong and pungent odors. Thus, one variety I can recommend, which will not only scare deers but keep a pleasant citrusy smell, is the Signet Marigold.
This specific flower plant can grow up to 4 feet tall and can be grown elsewhere. Also coined the “yellow gem,” this yellow flower blooms from summer to early winter and is best taken care of under direct exposure to the sun.
Conclusion
This range of plants has been deliberately selected to be deer tolerant. The majority of these perennials, shrubs, and flower bulbs are also very fragrant.
We hope that our article will be a great help to you. See you in our next posts!
