Deer Proof Gardens » barbra

List of Deer Proof Shrubs

barbra — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:41:55 +0000

Here is a list of reliably deer proof shrubs:

* Viburnum
* Boxwood
* Choisya ternata (Mexican Orange)
* Pieris
* Kalmia
* Cotinus
* Kerria
* Aronia
* Deciduous Hollies (Ilex)
* Spruce
* Junipers
* Lindera benzoin (native spicebush)
* Iteas
* Hamamelis
* Chionanthus

Boxwood: Deer Proof Evergreen Shrub

barbra — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:53:54 +0000

Is boxwood deer proof? The answer is “yes”.

Keep in mind, though, that if deer have the run of a property, they will taste just about anything new that appears. As one writer remarked: “They’re in the restaurant and they’re going to try the entire smorgasbord.”

Boxwood is a slow-growing evergreen deer proof shrub. It can be grown “natural” (see photo of untrimmed boxwood shrub below) or trimmed into a variety of shapes (see photo of trimmed boxwood).

Boxwood is available in most local nurseries. If you prefer mail order, reputable mail order nurseries for shrubs include Rare Find Nursery, Fairweather Gardens, and Roslyn Nursery.

Are all boxwood’s slow growing? There are different varieties and some grow faster than others. Check with your nursery staff.

Untrimmed boxwood

Boxwood trimmed into a shape

Advice on Deer Repellents (Video)

barbra — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:37:45 +0000

Deer repellents are basically anything that deer don’t like to smell or taste. One of the best tips in this short video on deer repellents is that deer get used to any repellent - so change your products from time to time. Also, deer repellents wear off so you need to reapply, especially after a rain. Or you could do what I do and forget about deer repellents and just concentrate on planting things that the deer don’t eat or can’t reach!

This video is hosted by well-known New England meteorologist and horticulturist David Epstein, from www.GrowingWisdom.com.

Deer Proof Your Garden: 4 Foot Double Fence

barbra — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:19:05 +0000

Homegrown Gardens has a good tip on how to keep deer out of the garden without having to build a 7-foot tall fence:

Since deer can’t both broad jump and high jump in the same leap, double fencing is a brilliant way to help keep deer out of the garden, Margaret has been a proponent of such deer-proof fencing for as long as she’s used it in her own garden… The key is to build two parallel fences, about four feet tall, and place them about four feet apart. This way, the deer trying to jump into your garden won’t try for fear of getting stuck in the gap. Planting between the fences will create even more of a visual barrier, further discouraging the deer, try a vine or a climbing rose. Prevent the deer from crawling underneath by using a picket fence for the outside barrier, or pin a wire fence to the ground with landscape staples.

Deer Resistant Plants

barbra — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:45:20 +0000

To find out what is deer proof in your neighbourhood, look at your neighbours’ landscapes. Are there any particular plants that the deer tend to leave alone? Another important issue is where do the deer travel? Look around for deer pathways, and try to avoid planting any “borderline” plants directly on their route. Deer are creatures of habit, thus they tend to travel the same pathways.

The following plants are typically deer proof; however, there are no absolutes when it comes to deer.

Deer Resistant Plant Varieties - Latin plant names are in italics

Deer Resistant Trees	Deer Resistant Shrubs	Deer Resistant Vines
Balsam Fir Birch Betula Ash Fraxinus Juniper Juniperus Ironwood Ostrya virginiana Spruce Picea Pines Canada Hemlock Tsuga Canadensis	Barberry Berberis New Jersey Tea California Lilac Ceanothus americanus Forsythia Witch Hazel Hamamelis Elderberry Sambucus Viburnum	American Bittersweet Virginia Creeper Trumpet Vine

Deer Resistant Trees

Deer Resistant Shrubs

Deer Resistant Vines

Balsam Fir

Birch Betula

Ash Fraxinus

Juniper Juniperus

Ironwood Ostrya virginiana

Spruce Picea

Pines

Canada Hemlock
Tsuga Canadensis

Barberry Berberis

New Jersey Tea

California Lilac Ceanothus americanus

Forsythia

Witch Hazel Hamamelis

Elderberry Sambucus

Viburnum

American Bittersweet

Virginia Creeper

Trumpet Vine

Grasses & Ferns	Perennials	More Perennials
Most grasses & fernsHerbs Most fragrant herbs such as chives, oregano & rosemary Groundcovers Buglewood Ajuga Wild Ginger Asarum Snow in summer Cerastium tomentosum Lilly of the Valley Convallaria majalis Barrenwort Epimedium Dead or spotted nettle Lamium maculatum Japanese spurge Pachysandra terminalis Periwinkle Vinca minor Barren Strawberry Waldstenia fragarioides	Yarrow Achilea Monkshood Aconitum Flowering Onion Allium Columbine Aquilegia Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Bleeding Heart Black snakeroot Cimicifuga racemosa Coral Bells Tickseed Coreopsis Foxglove Digitalis purpurea Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Globe Thistle Echinops Snowdrop Galanthus	Cranesbill GeraniumIris Joe Pye Weed Lavender Spike Gayfeather Liatris spicata Bee Balm Monarda Catmint Nepeta Russian Sage Perovskia atriplicifolia Lungwort Pulmonaria Buttercup Ranunculus Soapwort Saponaria ocymoides Goldenrod Solidago Thyme Speedwell Veronica

Grasses & Ferns

Perennials

More Perennials

Most grasses & fernsHerbs
Most fragrant herbs such as chives, oregano & rosemary

Groundcovers

Buglewood Ajuga

Wild Ginger Asarum

Snow in summer
Cerastium tomentosum

Lilly of the Valley
Convallaria majalis

Barrenwort Epimedium

Dead or spotted nettle
Lamium maculatum

Japanese spurge
Pachysandra terminalis

Periwinkle Vinca minor

Barren Strawberry
Waldstenia fragarioides

Yarrow Achilea Monkshood Aconitum

Flowering Onion Allium

Columbine Aquilegia

Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa

Bleeding Heart

Black snakeroot
Cimicifuga racemosa

Coral Bells

Tickseed Coreopsis

Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea

Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea

Globe Thistle Echinops

Snowdrop Galanthus

Cranesbill GeraniumIris

Joe Pye Weed

Lavender

Spike Gayfeather
Liatris spicata

Bee Balm Monarda

Catmint Nepeta

Russian Sage
Perovskia atriplicifolia

Lungwort Pulmonaria

Buttercup Ranunculus

Soapwort
Saponaria ocymoides

Goldenrod Solidago

Thyme

Speedwell Veronica

5 Ways to Deer Proof Your Garden

barbra — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:39:34 +0000

To discourage deer from eating your garden, you have have five basic options.

Fence the deer out.
Plant things out of reach of the deer.
Scare the deer away.
Make your garden unpleasant for deer.
Choose plants that deer don’t like.

Artist’s Deer Proof Garden

barbra — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:19:44 +0000

One of the most charming deer proof gardens I have ever visited is the Yellowpoint, BC garden of artists Grant Leir and Nixie Barton. They have their entire garden fenced with handmade willow panels. You can visit their garden during their art gallery open hours, which are 11 - 5 Thursday through Sunday.

Here are some photos that I took recently while touring their deer proof garden.

Is a Deer Proof Garden Possible?

barbra — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:14:45 +0000

Some people will tell you that there is no such thing as “deer proof”. While it’s true that deer will eat just about anything if they are hungry enough, there are some plants that are safe from deer damage (i.e. the deer rarely eat them), some plants that are unsafe (i.e. the deer always eat them), and some plants where it just depends (e.g. they may eat yours but leave your neighbour’s alone, or they may eat just the tender tips but leave the rest of the plant alone).

To help you know what to plant and what to avoid, on this website, I identify the “safe, not safe, and depends” plants with these three icons:

Welcome!

barbra — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:06:03 +0000

I’m Barbra Bakker and I’ve been gardening in deer country for over 20 years. In that time I have learned through trial and error how to create a deer proof garden. On this website I share what I’ve learned in the hopes that I can save you some frustration and expense. Enjoy!