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Oh deer, oh deer, what to do about those animals!
by Brenda Beust Smith
Our friend Kitty loves deer.
She and Richard moved "up north" toward Huntsville to enjoy nature more. Seems
nature is enjoying them now, too.
Many plants on which deer feed
were killed by our unnaturally long spring and summer drought. Kitty's flowers
look mighty tasty these days. Help! she said.
The fact is, we invaded their
territories with bulldozers, paved roads and St. Augustine lawns. We can't
blame them for invading what we now call "our" territory. Still, life must go
on. So don't get angry. Get smart.
There are electronic devices
and fences, but often the yard ends up looking like an armed camp. Some folks
say to hang a boiled egg in a mesh bag in the area. Deer don't like the smell
of rotten eggs. Smart deer. Or:
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Talk to folks who have been
in the area a long time. Ask which plants seem to be deer-proof.
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Identify areas where deer
feed most often. These are obviously safe-to-them places with easy access.
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Likewise, note untouched
areas. These spots may discourage deer for some reason. If so, they might be
good places to put a garden.
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Note which plants deer eat,
and which are stomped to death. Those stomped on obviously aren't as tasty
as ones eaten.
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Be prepared. Deer are
creatures of habit. If you've been providing them with tasty morsels in one
spot for years -- intentionally or unintentionally --they may eat new plants
in that spot just out of habit.
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Try temporary fencing in the
spring when deer are most adventurous. They will try new shoots that might
not tempt them later in the year -- unless, of course, they discover how
tasty they are.
- Try tough, hardy,
drought-tolerant plants. Deer prefer lush, green growth -- the kind that
comes from an organically rich garden.
Of course, hunger drives all
earthly creatures to eat even things they don't like. Still, you might try
these plants -- all of which are "supposed" to be distasteful to deer:
Annuals:
Ageratum, amaranth,
bluebonnets, castor bean, cleome, cosmos, forget-me-nots, dusty miller, globe
amaranth (gomphrena), melampodium, nierembergia, ornamental peppers,
periwinkles, polygonium, annual salvias, snapdragons, stocks, sweet alyssum,
vinca and zinnias.
Bulbs/perennials:
Allium, butterflyweed,
coreopsis, foxglove, iris, liatris, hardy salvias, tulips, veronica, yarrow.
Shrubs:
Juniper, yucca, thorny shrubs.
Vines:
Carolina jessamine, other
jasmine vines.
Ground covers:
English ivy.
Also contact your county
extension agent. If you're having a problem, a lot of other people in your
area probably are, too.
If all else fails, try feeding
the deer in an area which offers you an excellent view of them. And know that
I envy you their presence.
Brenda Beust Smith is known by her Houston Chronicle column readers, radio
listeners, and PBS television viewers as “The Lazy Gardener”. Having known
Brenda for several years, I can attest to the fact that she is NOT lazy in any
other area of her life! But her wonderful ideas to keep gardening a
pleasurable experience rather than a chore have aided millions.
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