Friendly, mooching deer can be gardeners’ bane

Cold, icy winters are admittedly hard on our healthy deer population, and many of us toss out apples, storage carrots and such to help them through the rough times.

The trouble with that is they come to count on us when their usual browse returns and stick around to see what’s coming up in our gardens. With global warming and definitely milder winters, the problem may soon be moot, but with deer, one never knows. Over the years, research, trial and error in my landscape has resulted in information that may help this coming season’s gardeners as they purchase bulbs, perennial plants, shrubs and trees for spring planting. 

This area’s deer population consists mainly of the whitetail, Odocoileus virginianus), the mule deer (O. hemionus), and the largest family member, the moose (Alces alces). The deer however, have become true garden ravagers, second only to the bear, which at least keep their destruction to fruit trees and orchards. “My” moose have thankfully never ventured into ornamental or herbal plantings, but contented themselves with the buckbrush and other native vegetation. Not so the deer! 

Personal experience has taught me some valuable lessons, for while the deer destroyed my tulip population, a poor little Horse Chestnut (it tried so hard to make it!), the Hostas (which I expected) and Bergenia (which I didn’t), they never touched the Daffodils and Poet’s Narcissus. I began compiling a list and discovered there are many plants they have NEVER touched during my 25-year residency.  

To wit: Clematis, Coral bells (Heuchera); Brunnera; Astilbe; Columbine (Aquilegia); Vinca minor (Periwinkle ground cover); Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum or bedstraw); Smoke tree (Cotinus); Iris; Peony; Raspberries; Sage (culinary); Lavender; Mint; Mt. Ash; Rocky Mt. Maple; Virginia Creeper; Monkshood (Aconitum); Foxglove (Digitalis); Lily-of-the-Valley (Convularia); Ferns; Campanula (Bluebell family); Asters and Chrysanthemums; Lilies; Siberian Pea tree; Summer squash — and the afore-mentioned Narcissi. 

A closer look at the above list gives a clue as to the “big four” deer deterrents: odor, toxicity, texture and prickly parts.  

Taken one at a time, we see that first, the odor can mean a lot of things, for where deer are concerned, apparently odor and taste are combined. Thus, the marigold and nasturtium petals that we enjoy as edible salad flora are not at all appreciated by Bambi. Too, mints, sage, Lavender, Petunias, and generally, Roses, are not on the “like” list, along with other aromatic foliage/flowers. Sometimes, as in the case of roses the “prickly” part assists with the shunning of the plant.  

Deer seem to inherently know what plants are toxic to them, and so never bother your Monkshood, Foxglove, and luckily, the coveted veggie garden members of the Nightshade family: Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, and such. Too, the Narcissus family is toxic to them (as well as to squirrels). 

Texture generally means “fuzzy” but can also include rough/tough. This includes a plethora of choice and pretty plants that we can enjoy with no fear of them being consumed. They include Stachys (Lamb’s ears), Rose Campion and Maltese Cross (both Lychnis) — which are more velvety than fuzzy, but equally disliked by the deer as are Mullein and Borage. They also bypass Rudbekia (Black-eyed Susan) and Echinacea (Coneflower). The texture of some succulents also deters deer — Hen and Chicks, Portulaca (Moss rose), Rock Cress, and other such low-growers are generally free from harm. Too, the crunchy leaves of Azaleas and Rhododendrons seem not to appeal to them. 

Prickly parts — thorns, spines and needles, are found on Oregon grape (Mahonia), Holly, Barberry, Flowering Quince, Blackberries/Raspberries/Dewberries, Hawthorn, Spruce, Pine, Juniper, and many Roses (though often, careful browsing on the deer’s part will eke out the buds and blossoms of many non-fragrant species). 

It would seem, in going over this list that it would be a simple matter to plan and plant a landscape/garden that the deer will ignore. Often, native plants serve well in deterring them too, but not always! Because, as bitter experience has shown, when all is said and done, a deer will come by in the night and eat up every single one of those “deer-proof” ornamentals we’ve just talked about!

Last word: Get a copy of High Country Gardens catalog, which has a great list of deer-deterring plants, keep today’s list at hand as well, then plant your choices and wait until next summer for the final results! Good luck! 

    Valle Novak
  

Editor's note: For many years, Valle Novak wrote gardening and cooking columns for the Daily Bee. "Weekend Gardener" and "Country Chef" became renowned for their humor, information, and common-sense advice on how to do everything from planting to cooking. She left behind many columns such as this one from Sept. 16, 2015, to delight her many fans.