Deer are a nuisance to gardeners in our area.
Fences and other physical barriers can be very effective as long as they are tall enough (6-10 feet high) that deer cannot climb over them.
Small barriers can help if you make the mistake of planting in a deer path. A few years ago I planted a Silver Fountain Butterfly Bush, a very deer-resistant shrub, right next to a deer path. The shrub never established well and I noticed that the deer were constantly walking on it, even though they weren't eating it. I put a trellis behind the shrub and it is now thriving.
Chemical repellents can keep deer away, but they often become ineffective after rain and require frequent reapplication. To prevent deer from developing a resistance to the products, it is effective to alternate between several different brands.
If you can't eliminate deer, plant selection may be your best means of deer control. Deer are primarily herbivores, not grazers. Understanding this difference will help you with your plant selection. Herbivores feed primarily on leaves and twigs. You may see deer nibbling at your lawn, but they are not doing you any harm. Grassy plants are rarely damaged by deer.
Deer also tend to avoid plants with strong scents. Deer avoid many plants in the mint family, such as thyme, bee balm, lemon balm, salvia (annual and perennial), and hyssop (Agathus spp.).
Alliums are also unattractive to deer, and they also avoid plants with hairy, rough leaves, such as those in the borage family, such as lungwort, forget-me-not, and false forget-me-not.
Many plants in the Asteraceae family are avoided by deer, good examples being Shasta daisies, Echinacea, Yarrow, etc. Plants with thorns or milky sap are also avoided by deer.
Finally, poisonous plants include euphorbia, daffodil, monkshood, bloodheart, foxglove, Lenten rose, Christmas rose, iris, milkweed, peonies, and dogbane. There is no guarantee that deer will avoid these plants, but they are unlikely to cause serious damage to them.
In early spring, deer seem to eat anything they can find, so don't be too worried if you find something nibbled on; many plants are resilient, so a little pruning early in the season will encourage growth and the plants will recover quickly.
If deer frequent your yard, check to see if new plants are deer-resistant before purchasing them. Often the plant's label will state its deer resistance, but it's always a good idea to double-check before you buy.
Here are some good sources:
Landscape plants valued for deer resistance
List of Deer-Resistant Native Plants in El Paso County
Deer-resistant/water-saving plants
Send your gardening questions to csumg2@elpasoco.com or call 719-520-7684. Our in-person help desk is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9am to noon and 1pm to 4pm at 17 N. Spruce St. Find us on Facebook at Colorado Master Gardeners – El Paso County.
Send your gardening questions to csumg2@elpasoco.com or call 719-520-7684. Our in-person help desk is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9am to noon and 1pm to 4pm at 17 N. Spruce St. Find us on Facebook at Colorado Master Gardeners – El Paso County.
