Deterring Deer in the Landscape

Many of us have seen an increase of Deer’s eating our valuable landscape plants, sometimes just after installation. Another major health concern for humans is Lyme Disease, which is carried by a deer tick.  Whitetail deer are herbivores or plant eaters. When a deer's habitat becomes smaller because of human development, deer will often eat food from gardens and yards. They like to feed in early morning hours and late afternoons. Click here to see a selection of plants that deer do not prefer when food supply is adequate.

Common Plants Deer Eat:

• Green Plants
• Corn
• Acorns and Other Nuts
• Buds and Twigs

Deer prefer heavily wooded areas or swamps to live in.  A deer's home range is usually less than one square mile. Deer are creatures of habit; they follow the same routine, the same trails, day after day, shifting the pattern only because of weather conditions and the availability of food. 

Preference by deer for plants is often determined by the overall availability of food. Additionally, plant preferences for deer can vary on a regional basis. Deer need 10 to 12 pounds of food per day to satisfy their needs. Please note that deer will eat almost anything when it comes down to their survival.

There are various methods in deterring deer in your landscape:

Deer Repellents
	All Season Weatherproof
	All season weatherproof, organic protection from deer foraging damage. Odorless to humans.
	Bonide Repels-All
	All natural ingredients but repulsive to vermin and other undesirables. Repels three ways, by sense of touch, taste and smell. This is the most comprehensive animal repellent on the market. Protects plants and property, including structures, for up to 2 months per application. Rain fast after 6 hours. May be used around edibles.
	Repellex
	Repellex Original Deer and Rabbit is a deer and rabbit repellent that keeps various pests away from your lawn and garden.  The formulation is designed to bind and stick to the woody and leafy surfaces of flowers and ornamental plants offering up to 90 days of protection.
	Liquid Fence
	Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent is the environmentally safe and biodegradable solution to all your deer and rabbit problems. Best of all, this easy-to-use, long lasting spray is family and pet friendly so you can use it worry-free. And because it’s all natural, it doesn’t hurt the deer or rabbits!

Deer Barrier
	Easy Gardener Deer Barrier
	Easy Gardener Deer Barrier protects crops and property from deer or other animals. This strong, yet lightweight material will not rust, rot or corrode like metal or wood and is UV protected to last for years. There are no sharp edges, so it’s easy to handle and won’t harm deer. The black mesh material blends easily into surroundings and attaches easily to trees and posts. This product does not conduct electricity. Available in 7' x 100' rolls. Wooden and metal stakes sold separately.

Plant Selection

The following plants are some that appear to be less preferred by deer when food supplies are adequate.

Trees
	Acer rubrum Red maple		Acer palmatum Japanese maple		Acer saccharum Sugar maple
	Betula nigra River birch		Betula papyrifera Paper birch		Cercidphyllum japonicum Katsura tree
	Cornus florida Flowering dogwood		Cornus kousa Kousa dogwood		Cotinus coggygria Smoketree
	Crataegus viridis Winter King hawthorn		Fagus sylvatica European beech		Gleditsia triacanthos inermis Honeylocust
	Halesia Silverbell		Picea abies Norway spruce		Picea glauca White spruce
	Picea pungens Colorado spruce		Pinus Pine		Prunus serrulata - Japanese flowering cherry
	Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglass Fir		Sciadopitys verticillata Umbrella pine		Thuja plicata ‘Green Giant’ Green Giant Arborvitae

Shrubs
	Aesculus parviflora Bottlebrush buckeye		Amelanchier Serviceberry		Aronia arbutifolia Chokeberry
	Buddleia Butterfly Bush		Buxus Boxwood		Caryopteris Bluebeard
	Cephalotaxus Japanese plum yew		Chamaecyparis pisifera Sawara cypress		Chaenomeles Flowering quince
	Cytisus Broom		Enkianthus campanulatus Redvein enkianthus		Forsythia
	Hamamelis Witchhazel		Hypericum St. Johnswort		Hibiscus syriacus Rose of Sharon
	Ilex glabra and cvs. Inkberry		Itea Sweetspire		Juniperus chinensis Chinese Juniper
	Kalmia latifolia Mountain laurel		Kerria		Kolkwitzia Beautybush
	Leucothoe		Microbiota Russian cypress		Myrica Bayberry
	Picea glauca conica Dwarf Alberta spruce		Pieris Andromeda		Pinus mugo Mugo Pine
	Potentilla Cinquefoi		Rosa rugosa Beach Rose		Rhus Sumac
	Spiraea Spirea		Symphoricarpos Snowberry		Syringa vulgaris Common lilac
	Viburnum		Weigela

Vines
	Clematis		Lonicera Honeysuckle		Wisteria

Groundcovers
	Ajuga reptans		Ajuga		Japanese Pachysandra
	Pachysandra terminalis		Vinca minor and cvs.

Perennials
	Achillea		Aconitum		Alchemilla
	Allium		Aquilegia		Artemisia
	Aruncus		Aster		Astilbe
	Baptisia		Campanula		Centaurea
	Chelone		Cimicifuga		Convallaria
	Coreopsis		Delphinium		Dianthus
	Dicentra		Digitalis		Echinacea
	Echinops		Epimedium		Euphorbia
	Ferns		Filipendula		Grasses
	Geranium		Gypsophila		Helleborus
	Heuchera		Iberis		Iris
	Lamium		Lavandula		Liatris
	Limonium		Lupinus		Macleaya
	Mentha		Monarda		Nepeta
	Oenothera		Paeonia		Papaver
	Penstemon		Perovskia		Phlox Summer
	Pulmonaria		Salvia		Sedum- low
	Stachys		Thymus		Veronica

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