Oh, deer!

 

Deer overabundance is a major problem here in the Hudson Valley, and we are regularly asked for lists of deer-resistant plants. We thought we had it down, but the drought of 2024 really brought the deer problem to the forefront and forced us to rethink our management strategy.

When we moved to our farm six years ago, there was little in the way of plant diversity, yet two large bucks made a home in our backyard that first winter feasting on who-knows-what. Starting a garden here was intimidating, to say the least. In those first few winters, deer munched all of our supposedly deer-resistant plants including boxwood and willows. Slowly, I began to plant perennials with fuzzy, fragrant, or poisonous foliage around the exteriors of our gardens to deter deer. Once the deer got the message not to visit in summer, they also began avoiding our property in winter. We had four deer-free years and it seemed the problem was solved!

Then came the drought of 2024… with the drought, deer became hungrier and bolder. They bypassed our deterrent plants in summer, eventually coming directly into the heart of the nursery to feast on treasured plants. By winter, they felt right at home. We left for a week around Christmas and came back to complete ruin. They even ate our leeks! Deer fencing began to go up the following week. 

So now, when I share lists of deer-resistant plants it is with a huge asterisk. There are certainly plants that deer prefer to avoid, but they will feast on almost anything when hungry enough. The list of totally untouched plants is very short.

When we came home, we immediately erected a double layer of electric-netting (which we use for our land-clearing goats in summer) around what remained of our Arborvitae. It is an eyesore, but it is effective. 

The beginnings of the deer fence that will surround two sides of our corner lot. Digging posts holes through frozen ground and snow is hard work! 

Poisonous plants

Deer absolutely avoid toxic plants such as Aconite, Aquilegia, Delphinium, Euphorbia, Foxglove, Rhubarb, and Zigadenus. Plant with caution, however, as many parts of these plants are highly toxic to both humans and animals.

Aromatic plants

Deer detest oily, aromatic plants such as mint, catmint, calamint, lavender, sweet fern, and fennel. Happily, we did not have a single bite missing from any of these plants and we did not have to worry about accidentally poisoning any curious pets. 

Aromatic plants tend to have stiff stems that stand up to winters worst. Many, like the sacred basil pictured above, also retain their fragrance through winter. Dried tulsi smells almost like juicy fruit gum. 

Textured plants

Deer also avoid distinctly textured plants. They will not nibble on the waxy, succulent leaves of sedums, nor do they enjoy the fuzzy leaves of lamb's ear, or the straw-like texture of ornamental grasses. 

Thankfully, the deer leave our beloved ornamental plants grasses alone! 

There are other plants that deer do not eat such as Rohdea. However, the deer in our garden love ripping these beauties out of the ground and leaving them with their roots exposed. Above is a sad example of one that was ripped out of the ground multiple times this fall. Finally, the ground froze and the deer were forced to leave it be.