I'm planning to swap out the hostas in front of my house for some plants that deer won't find as appealing. Every summer, the deer devour all my hostas, so I'm looking for alternatives that are less tempting. I've heard that cyclamen and hellebore are 'deer resistant' according to Breck's catalogue. Has anyone had good experiences with these plants in keeping deer at bay?
3 Answers
I like to joke that 'deer resistant' means something like mustard! Seriously though, no plant is truly deer-proof. When the spring rolls around and they’re desperate after a long winter, they'll munch on just about anything. I've seen people claim their hellebores and daffodils are untouched, while others have had them ravaged by hungry deer. It's best to plant a diverse mix—then at least some of your plants might survive. If you grow a variety, the deer will target what's blooming rather than obliterating your whole garden.
Hyssop and Bergamot work wonders for me, plus I’ve had no issues with milkweed, yarrow, and Iris either. They seem to leave those alone.
Oh, I have a ton of Iris and Milkweed around! I like to have a variety too, especially since I have plenty of garden space. I'm so over those hostas!
I’ve planted lavender and garlic around my garden. The deer aren’t fond of those scents, which helps a bit.
I try to mix in strongly scented shrubs with my flowers as well. It's hit or miss with the deer, though!
Totally agree! I generally plant a mix as well. I'm actually relocating my hostas to the edge of my yard where the deer can have their fill!