Deer Damage to Landscape Plantings – Control Strategies

In our plant catalog, we have identified several different plants that we have found to be resistant to deer damage. This is based on our extensive experience, but is in no way a guarantee. When food is in short supply, deer will eat even the most undesirable plants.

We have also identified plants that are very susceptible to deer damage, and those should either be avoided or protected if you have deer issues in your landscape.

Plants that have no information listed are still under evaluation and will be rated as more field experience becomes available.

Deer resistance information as it relates to TREES: All young single trunk trees are susceptible to rubbing. Bucks (male deer) rub their antlers on young, flexible trees to remove the velvet that initially covers them. Trunk rubbing in winter can significantly damage trees. Trunks of young trees should be protected in severely deer infested areas until trees are established. You can surround the tree with a sturdy fence or barrier that can keep a determined deer away from the tree trunk. A 6-foot-tall barrier of welded wire mesh fencing, supported by 8-foot-tall rebar pounded into the ground at regular intervals around the circumference is a reliable way to keep bucks from rubbing on young trees. You can also use the supplied tree stakes as supports and wrap the fencing around them. Another option is corrugated plastic drainpipe that has been slit along its length and placed around the trunk. Low branched trees are usually less affected. Just because a tree is listed as deer resistant that means that the foliage is not usually eaten by deer.

Deer damage to ornamental plantings in the landscape has increased significantly in recent years. The best approach to reducing the impact is a combination of methods including planting resistant plants and protecting susceptible plantings either with fencing or applying repellents. Professional strength repellents are the most effective products we have found. In our experience, regular application of these products has been very successful in protecting plantings. We offer application services, please contact us if you are interested.

Deer damage will also vary from season to season and year to year based on environmental and seasonal factors. Extreme winters, and summer droughts will often lead to an increase in damage to landscape plantings. Fall is a time for storing up energy for the winter ahead, so we see increased activity. During winter, they will often feed on evergreens that they will leave alone the rest of the year. Early spring is a time when the young succulent growth of ornamentals provides attractive food sources for deer, so we see increased activity again.