How to Protect Your Landscape from Deer

Here are some methods to discourage hungry deer from dining in your garden.

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It’s surprising to discover the damage deer can do to your precious plants. The last thing any gardener wants is to go outside to find all their hard work and benefits destroyed, and by Bambi no less.

While there are varieties of plants considered deer resistant or deer tolerant, a deer will eat just about any plant if it’s hungry enough.

However, there are still effective methods to protect your landscape from future raids, including deer resistant plants. Read on for solutions.

Frighten Deer Away

Deer are always alert and frighten easily. If you hear one or more poking around in the yard, scare them away with an abrupt sound or movement. Better yet, let out the dog! Sensor lighting around the house or yard may also be a resourceful, fright-inducing alternative.

Walkway lights and blooms

Make it Smell and Taste Bad

If it smells or tastes bad, they won’t eat it (or will be much less inclined). Deer repellants are effective in keeping deer away. Some are stronger than others – you may not even want to go near that manure smell. However, you can try ingredients from around the house, such as garlic or rotten eggs, which are more tolerable, on hand, and less expensive.

Eggs in garden protect from deer

Use Deer Resistant and Deer Tolerant Plants

While there are varieties of plants that can be deer resistant or deer tolerant, a deer will eat just about any plant if it’s starving. Nonetheless, incorporating plants that are known for being deer resistant or tolerant into your landscape will still make a difference. Also, create borders around plants that attract deer to potentially eliminate the need for deer to dig deeper.

Encore Azalea landscape

Add Fencing

Building a barrier around your yard, garden, or specific plants is the best long-term solution. For smaller spaces, such as a garden or island, you can build a barrier or fence that is four feet tall and securely rooted in the ground. Deer jump high, but are less likely to enter a confined space. If needing to protect a large area, the fence will need to be seven feet tall and securely in the ground. If motivated, they will try to go under, through, or over the fence. Installing an electric fence will definitely keep out all unwanted creatures, but should be used with caution.

White picket fence with border plants

To learn about other common pests for Encore Azaleas, click here.

To browse the entire Encore Azalea Collection, click here.

Encore Azalea is the best azalea you’ll ever plant. Encore Azaleas are the world’s best-selling re-blooming azalea with rich, colorful blooms in spring, summer and fall. Encore Azaleas have 31 varieties of bloom colors and sizes to choose from and thrive equally well in high filtered shade or sunny locations – unlike any other azalea in the world. Find a retailer near you at www.encoreazalea.com.