Protect Your Garden with Pennsylvania’s Best Deer-Resistant Plants
No one loves a vibrant, thriving garden more than a hungry deer. And while we enjoy these peaceful animals, we enjoy them a little less when they’re munching on all our hard work. The best way to limit the damage is by choosing deer-resistant plants and designing your landscaping with these creatures in mind.
Challenges of Deer in Your Garden
Do you have a deer problem? The good news is, you don’t need to take it personally. These animals typically venture into your yard when they are hungry and low on food. This often happens during dry summers or freezing winters. The deer population faces the most food stress in late winter and early spring, but the right plants will attract them at all times of the year.
Deer don’t just eat plants. They can also trample blooms, dig up the dirt looking for food, and damage trees with their antlers. At the end of the day, they are a nuisance and can cause real issues to your carefully curated garden.
The best way to avoid deer problems is by not planting their favorite snacks. Plants with high water content, low-hanging fruit, and easy access are a beacon calling the deer to your yard. Here are a few of their favorites that you should avoid:
- Fruits
- Leafy greens
- Hostas
- Yews
- Azaleas
- Ivy
- Roses
- Rhododendrons
- Daylilies
- Firs
- Cabbage
- Beets
- Turnips
The Ins and Outs of Deer-Resistant Plants
While some plants are a deer delicacy, others have the opposite effect. Plants with strong tastes, textures, and smells often deter them. Herbs and flowers tend to be too fragrant, and prickly veggies like cucumbers have an unappealing texture. Deer also avoid plants with thorns, needles, fuzzy foliage, or toxins.
This doesn’t mean they won’t take a bite or two, but they probably won’t graze for long and your plants should survive. That being said, no plant is completely deer-proof. If the animals are desperate enough, they will eat almost anything.
However, when you incorporate deer-resistant plants into your landscape design, you will create a garden that’s lower-maintenance and long-lasting. Going the non-chemical route to deer-proofing also benefits the soil and local wildlife, helping you promote biodiversity.
The Best Deer-Resistant Plants to Add to Your Garden
Knowing what plants are deer-resistant is essential when planning your garden. Here is our list of the best flowers, herbs, vegetables, and shrubs to avoid your yard becoming a buffet.
Annuals
Annuals are plants that complete their entire life cycle in a single growing season, so they need to be replanted each year. While deer are a persistent challenge, there are dozens of vibrant annuals that deer usually avoid due to their strong scents, unappealing textures, or bitter flavors. Plus, these deer-resistant annual plants add some seasonal charm to your outdoor space.
- Verbena
- Snapdragon
- Poppy
- Forget-me-not
- Heliotrope
- Polka-dot plant
- Morning glory
- Geranium
Download PDF of Deer-Resistant Annual Plants
Perennials
Unlike annuals, perennials return year after year while going dormant in the colder seasons. These hardy plants are a favorite among gardeners, but also among deer. Fortunately, there are plenty of perennials that the animals typically avoid. For a garden that flourishes without becoming a snack for local wildlife, add these deer-resistant perennial plants to your landscape.
- Peony
- Yarrow
- Bee balm
- Coneflower
- Salvia
- Lilac
- Catmint
- Foxglove
Herbs
Herbs are a fantastic addition to any garden, offering delightful smells, visual appeal, and of course, a little help in the kitchen. Many herbs are also naturally deer-resistant because of their strong scents and flavors, which deer find unappetizing (that makes one of us). Plant the following herbs to protect your garden from unwelcome visitors.
- Chives
- Fennel
- Lavender
- Dill
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Thyme
- Mint
Vegetables
Just like herbs, growing vegetables can be incredibly rewarding. However, deer often find them as delicious as you do. Thankfully, some are less appealing to these animals because of their prickly textures or strong scents. By incorporating these deer-resistant vegetable plants, you can enjoy a productive harvest while minimizing the risk of damage.
- Rhubarb
- Garlic
- Asparagus
- Eggplant
- Peppers
- Cucumbers
- Broccoli
Shrubs
Shrubs are the cornerstone of a well-designed garden. They add structure, greenery, and seasonal interest year-round, but they can also become targets for hungry deer. These deer-resistant shrubs have tough foliage or thorny branches, making them less likely to be disturbed.
- Panicle hydrangea
- False cypress
- Osmanthus
- Butterfly bush
- Forsythia
- Boxwood
- Bluebeard
- Viburnum
- Forsythia
Shop for Deer-Resistant Plants Online
Design Tips for a Deer-Safe Garden
Now that you know what plants are deer-resistant, it’s important to think about how to arrange them for maximum effectiveness. We recommend placing your deer-resistant plants along the perimeter of your garden. This acts as a natural deterrent, discouraging the deer from venturing in too deep and protecting the vulnerable plants within.
Along with plant placement, adding a physical barrier can provide extra protection. You can construct a fence around your garden, or for a more natural option, grow a dense hedge to keep deer out. Another line of defense is surrounding your garden with large rocks. This works because deer and other hoofed animals don’t like walking across unstable surfaces.
Since deer avoid strong smells, you can create your own natural repellent to keep them at bay. A homemade mixture of soap, milk, eggs or vinegar, and essential oils can be an effective solution.
Just follow these steps to create your concoction and spray them onto your plants (avoiding any that you want to have for dinner). This final step will make your garden even less appealing for deer.
When you combine these tips with a garden full of deer-resistant plants, you’ll have a yard that is thriving, beautiful, and undamaged.
Shop for all the deer-resistant plants you need at your local Stauffers of Kissel Hill