Eckert’s Gardening Tips:
Deer in Your Landscape

Garden plants are a favorite food for deer! Unfortunately, deer eat both weeds and ornamental landscape plants. Effective deer control often involves multiple techniques and a bit of experimentation.

Identify the Damage

Before attempting controls, be certain the damage is from deer. Watch for deer tracks in muddy areas. Deer leave jagged edges when they feed. (Rabbits usually make clean cuts.) Deer often rub their antlers on young trees breaking small branches and rubbing the bark off of trees. They also feed on new shoots and can completely devour plants. (Rabbits often leave parts of the plant behind.)

Physical Controls

The most effective control is a fence. Deer will jump a 6’ fence if they are certain they can make a landing (i.e. they have enough room on the other side of the fence). While fencing alone will deter them, shrubs around the inside of a fence would be an ideal control.

Repellents

1. Taste deterrents, such as 2 tablespoon of Tabasco and 1 gallon of water, can be sprayed on plants. Reapply after rain.

2. Bars of soap inside a strip of nylons tied to a tree limb or stake can also deter deer.

3. Deer are sometimes repelled by human hair. Slip some inside nylons. Sometimes when these repellents are used, the animals become conditioned and learn not to come back. Other times, when food is scarce, they will return or even ignore the deterrent.

Scare Tactics

Deer are often deterred by dogs, sudden light, and sound. Motion detectors that trigger noise or light can be effective scare strategies. The motion and rustling sound of white plastic bags tied on low tree branches can also be alarming to them. Periodically change your tactics for effectiveness.

Plants Deer Do NOT Prefer

Some plants are not preferred food sources for deer. However, if sources are scarce, they may resort to some of these plants.

Annuals

• Alyssum
• California poppy
• Salvia
• Snapdragon
• Zinnia

Perennials

• Astilbe
• Bearded Iris
• Bleeding Heart
• Coreopsis
• Daffodils
• Dame’s Rocket
• Dutch Iris
• Butterfly Bush
• Foxglove
• Oriental poppy
• Penstemon
• Peony
• Rockcress
• Shasta Daisy
• Tulip
• Yarrow

Shrubs and Trees

• Barberry
• Common Lilac
• Forsythia
• Juniper
• Pine
• Potentilla
• Rhododendron
• Spruce

Sources: DuPage Co. Forest Preserve, Michigan State University Extension