“I’ll be candid with you – my journey through gardening was predominantly confined to the intimate spaces of town life, blissfully exempt from deer encounters. However, recent years led me to tend to a sprawling garden in the idyllic landscape of Suffolk, UK, and suddenly, the significance of those ‘deer-resistant plant’ labels in catalogs became strikingly evident.
Witnessing graceful deer wandering through your garden can indeed be endearing. However, the sight of nibbled plants can swiftly transform delight into frustration. It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from annoyance to a pang of guilt, as you realize these majestic creatures must survive in landscapes altered by gardens and agriculture.
My ultimate aspiration is to establish a peaceful coexistence with deer. I firmly subscribe to the notion of sharing the land rather than embarking on the futile quest of exclusion – after all, they were the original inhabitants of these spaces. Achieving this harmony necessitates a delicate equilibrium of plant selection, where both we and our four-legged visitors can find nourishment and beauty.
It’s vital to recognize that no plant can boast of being entirely deer-proof, and their levels of resistance exhibit remarkable variance. Some plants labeled as deer-resistant stand as untouched sentinels, while others, bearing the same labels, show the scars of frequent grazing. The intricacy deepens as we delve into the ebb and flow of resistance throughout the seasons, influenced by alternative food sources, deer age, and the unique composition of the local herd.
In a recent garden project during the spring, the geraniums, especially the Rozanne variety, with their fresh leaves and budding flowers, graced the deer’s gourmet menu. However, as summer unfolded, the deer seemed to discover more alluring food sources, allowing the geraniums to bloom peacefully throughout the season.
Come autumn, the deer’s palate shifted once again, this time toward the flower buds, sparing the leaves of the geraniums. A similar story unfolded among the asters – leaves remained untouched, while late-blooming varieties fell prey to browsing, leaving lush bushes bereft of blooms.
This experience underscores a pivotal lesson: the dining preferences of deer sway in cadence with the seasons, guided by the ebb and flow of available sustenance. Ensuring they have access to delectable plants during spring and autumn transitional periods becomes paramount. One thoughtful solution involves planting apple trees and leaving the fruits as a generous offering during the autumn season, ensuring a continued source of nourishment for both deer and visiting birds.
Allow me to clarify – I don’t advocate consistently feeding wild deer, as their dietary habits should remain primarily wild. Instead, I emphasize the significance of fostering a thriving ecosystem within our gardens. Our meticulously manicured lawns, graced by a mere handful of trees, rhododendrons, and holly plants, often fall short of nurturing the richness of the natural world. It’s a conscious choice we must make – to share a portion of our garden’s bounty with the wild, whether through our carefully selected plants or designated trees and bushes intentionally left for their nourishment. So, even before we delve into creating a flower bed, we must establish corners for wildlife within our gardens, complete with plants that aid deer during different seasons.
Among the best plants for deer are raspberries and blackberries. These hardy plants thrive, even in shaded areas, and are remarkably resilient. They easily propagate, allowing you to transplant them to new locations, and they grow rapidly. Even if deer nibble on them, these resilient plants will recover quickly. However, it’s crucial to protect them during the initial season while they establish themselves and produce new shoots. Once they form robust bushes, you can allow deer to enjoy their treat without worry.
I’ve also discovered that deer appreciate Phacelia tanacetifolia, a popular green manure crop that grows effortlessly from seeds. If you have sunny spots within a forested area, consider sprinkling its seeds in early spring to ensure deer have a readily available food source in the springtime. Only after creating these wildlife-friendly corners in your garden can we, without any guilt, select deer-resistant plants to enhance our enjoyment of the garden.”
—Introduction, “Perennial Combinations for a Deer-Resistant Garden WORKBOOK: Creating a Deer-Resistant Garden Bed in Full Sun”
Allow me to share a few deer-resistant plants and beautiful yet straightforward plant combinations that you can incorporate into your garden.
For a comprehensive list of 17 plants that have demonstrated the highest deer-resistant properties based on my experience, you can refer to my workbook – ‘Perennial Combinations for a Deer-Resistant Garden WORKBOOK: Creating a Deer-Resistant Garden Bed in Full Sun.’
I hope these examples of plant combinations will inspire and guide you toward a garden that not only captivates with its beauty but also fosters a harmonious coexistence with deer. By carefully selecting plants and understanding the ebb and flow of deer preferences, we can create spaces that nourish nature and our love for gardening.
Leave a Reply