Deerproof Planting Tips

Deer damage is generally unmistakable. Typically, deer are browsers, and nibble the tips of plants, leaving ragged stems. They also strip the leaves down to the stems or devour entire plants, pulling them out of the ground in their enthusiasm.

Any recently purchased plants are susceptible to deer damage because nurseries tend to liberally water and fertilize their plants, thus making the plants more appealing and nutritious. Consequently, you may have to protect temporarily newly planted flowers and shrubs which deer would normally ignore once they were established.

If your shrubs need temporary protection, try covering them directly with bird netting. Lift the netting once a week and shift it slightly to prevent stems from growing through it. If plants are really small, cut 2 lengths of stiff wire, bend the wires in a semi-circle and place them in the ground crossing one over the other. Lay netting over the wire, holding it in place with garden staples.

You can also discourage deer by spraying plants with either commercial or homemade concoctions containing eggs. Mix spray with a spreader sticker to help spray adhere to leaves. Sprays are only temporary deterrents. They need to be applied regularly and are not effective in rainy weather.

An effective homemade spray recipe is 1 egg mixed with 1 qt of water. Tabasco sauce can also be added. The rotten egg smell is not detectable by humans, but is effective in discouraging deer. Pour your mixture through a fine mesh strainer before putting it in your sprayer to avoid clogging it.

Avoid planting new plants or fertilizing existing plants in the late summer and fall when native foliage has dried up! During this time, deer are hungrier and bolder. Freshly planted material is particularly vulnerable. Lots of water and fertilizer also makes plants more juicy and nutritious. Wait until December, or until it has rained sufficiently to "green up" native plants, before planting or fertilizing.

As local food sources dry up due to weather conditions or urban development, deer become less picky. So they may eat plants in the fall that they ignored in the spring, or, they may begin eating plants they avoided in previous years.

Also different deer populations have different food preferences. Therefore, plants proven to be deer-proof in one area may not be in another. Some people have the misfortune to live in an area with 2 different deer populations - each with their own food preferences. This is common in the Sonoma area where different deer populations live in both the valley and the hills above.

Some deer populations are more aggressive in their eating habits than others. Some homeowners have to build major barricades to prevent deer from standing on their hind legs and leaning on branches while eating the leaves of trees. In other cases, 4' chicken wire cages held in place in rebar are sufficient. It may depend on the plant or how hungry your deer are, as well. Try experimenting.

When sprinting, deer can easily clear an 8' fence, but you can devise effective barriers without having to build your own version of the Great Wall of China. Deer often will not jump into a small enclosure, so 6' fencing can suffice in some instances. Deer are less inclined to jump a fence if they cannot see what is on the other side, so even shade cloth can be a useful deterrent. Deer do not like bird netting because it they can become easily entangled in it. Some people have kept deer out of a particular area, by laying chain link fence on the ground because deer do not like to step on it.

In many cases, you can grow virtually any tree or shrub you want as long as you protect it until it grows beyond 4' high - the range that deer can comfortably reach. However, anything below that height is fair game unless it is deer proof.

Even conifers are not immune to deer damage. Until they are well established, tree trunks can easily be damaged in the fall by male deer rubbing their antlers against them. Depending on your esthetic values, there is a wide range of effective deterrents including wrapping the trunks with nylon stockings, bird netting, or plastic protectors. Chicken wire cages also work well.

Despite popular opinion, native California plants are not deer proof. Those plants comprise the normal source of food for deer in the wild. However, native plants survive due to their sheer numbers and the fact that deer are browsers.

Plants from other areas, particularly the Mediterranean region, tend to be more deer proof. As a rule, deer do not like plants with highly aromatic or fuzzy leaves. When in doubt, buy one "sacrificial lamb" and plant it in your garden to test its' appeal to deer.

It is possible to effectively landscape in deer country with minimal protection provided that you choose your plant palette carefully and use temporary barriers where needed. One of the most effective techniques is to completely avoid planting anything which deer eat. Planting anything that attracts deer merely opens the door for them to develop a taste for the rest of your landscape.