As a gardener, you spend hours in your garden or landscape toiling over your tender plants, amending the soil, and hauling mulch to nurture a living landscape. You will spend many more hours managing, maintaining and monitoring those outdoor living spaces. Ironically, many of us work hard in the hopes of attracting wildlife into our outdoor spaces, and we can be disappointed when undesirable events occur. You wake up one morning to find that your flowers have been nibbled to the ground.
There is hope! Fortunately, many of our native or adapted plants show resistance to certain wildlife. Honestly, though, if an animal is hungry enough, it will forage, and most plants cannot be truly classified as animal-proof. Imagine before you a smorgasbord of delightful greens, roughage to please the palette, sweet aromas and fragrances, and vibrant colors and textures that abound and they draw you in closer…animals will be naturally attracted to such a delectable place setting; however, they may not find the meal palatable – that day. However, the next day, week or month, your landscape may be more appealing.
Oh, Deer! Unfortunately, deer will consume almost anything. This is especially true in the Spring when young succulent growth is occurring, later in the Summer when drought conditions are present; and, if the density of the deer population is high, then damage can be significant. Trees can suffer a great deal of damage from deer. Deer will forage on the leaves of small ornamentals and young seedlings to the browse line which is about five to six feet above the ground. Also, male deer will polish their antlers and can destroy a tree’s bark and increase the tree’s susceptibility to insect and disease infestations. To protect trees, it may be necessary to place protective wire or temporary fencing around the tree’s main trunk stem.
Generally, plants that are highly fragrant show resistance to deer. Because deer rely on their sense of smell to identify safe plants to eat, by using very aromatic plants in the landscape, the deer’s senses are confused and it will leave the area to forage elsewhere. Your neighbor may not be too happy with you, but your plants will be happy and alive.
There are a great many plants that are fragrant to include herbs and flowering annuals and perennials. Try these plant varieties in your landscape to ensure successful gardening with wildlife:
Shrubs and small ornamental trees – Abelia, Agarita, Agave, Japanese Boxwood, Century Plant, Desert Willow, Dwarf Chinese Holly, Evergreen Sumac, Fig, Flameleaf Sumac, Fragrant Mimosa, Juniper, Lantana, Mexican Buckeye, Nandina, Oleander, Persimmon, Pomegranate, Pyracantha, Red Yucca, Rosemary, Sotol, Texas Mountain Laurel, Turks Cap, and Yaupon Holly (regular and dwarf).
Flowering annuals and perennials - Ageratum, Amaryllis, Angel Trumpet, Artemesia - Silver King, Asparagus Fern, Autumn Sage, Bearded Iris, Bird of Paradise, Black-eyed Susan, Blackfoot Daisy, Blue Plumbago, Bluebonnet, Butterfly Bush, Butterfly Weed, Candytuft, Cast-Iron Plant, Coreopsis, Dusty Miller, Flame Acanthus, Four O'Clock, Garlic Chives, Goldenrod, Goldmoss Sedum, Hen and chickens, Hummingbird Bush, Indian Blanket, Iris, Larkspur, Lavender, Lemon Bee Balm, Mexican Hat, Mexican Mint Marigold, Mexican Oregano, Milkweed, Prickly Pear Cactus, Purple Cone Flower, Rock Rose, Rosemary, Saw-Leaf Daisy, Silver-Leaf Nightshade, Snow-on-the-Mountain, Thistle, Verbena, Yarrow, and Zinnias. Note: Most varieties of salvias and sages show resistance to deer.
Ornamental grasses, vines and ground covers - Asiatic Jasmine, Carolina and Star Jasmine, Inland sea oats, Lindheimer's Muhley, Mexican Feather Grass, Maiden Grass, Mondo Grass, Monkey Grass, Pampas Grass, Purple Fountain Grass, Spearmint, and Thyme.
Using deer-resistant plants is the ideal solution; but, unfortunately, there are few plants that are fully deer-proof. However, the plants that do show some resistance are hardy, heat-loving and drought tolerant, and would be great additions to the landscape. Although the fragrant foliage and blooms may not be on the deer’s menu, these are great plants to attract beneficial insects, butterflies and hummingbirds. Gardening with wildlife is possible!
Resistant plants have a chance of being consumed, so other precautions should be taken to protect those prized plants. Before investing in large quantities of a specific plant, plant a test specimen during the growing season to determine how wildlife responds to it. If you have had success with a specific plant that shows resistance to being munched, chewed or devoured by wildlife, let me know. Also, let me know what has not worked for you.
Melissa is the Extension Horticulturist for Taylor County and may be reached by email at dmsturdivant@ag.tamu.edu or at 325-672-6048.
As a gardener, you spend hours in your garden or landscape toiling over your tender plants, amending the soil, and hauling mulch to nurture a living landscape. You will spend many more hours managing, maintaining and monitoring those outdoor living spaces. Ironically, many of us work hard in the hopes of attracting wildlife into our outdoor spaces, and we can be disappointed when undesirable events occur. You wake up one morning to find that your flowers have been nibbled to the ground.
Oh, Deer! Unfortunately, deer will consume almost anything. This is especially true in the Spring when young succulent growth is occurring, later in the Summer when drought conditions are present; and, if the density of the deer population is high, then damage can be significant. Trees can suffer a great deal of damage from deer. Deer will forage on the leaves of small ornamentals and young seedlings to the browse line which is about five to six feet above the ground. Also, male deer will polish their antlers and can destroy a tree’s bark and increase the tree’s susceptibility to insect and disease infestations. To protect trees, it may be necessary to place protective wire or temporary fencing around the tree’s main trunk stem.
