Oh Dear, Deer!

by Corcoran McEnearney

Anyone else get all of their planting done in time for summer, only to walk outside and see stripped trees, dead plants, and grass trampled down?

While having wildlife in your yard is part of the fun, some companions don’t share well. Deer love to eat plants that are smooth, tender, and have flavor – essentially, they love to eat your garden and flowers. Deer tend to stick to their “home range” all of their lives, meaning that if your house is in their home range and they like your daily menu, they’ll visit again and again.

Deer can do a number on your yard but you want to live peacefully in their habitat. Try some of these tips to help mitigate their damage (and you may need to try a few of them).

An old wives’ tale says to put rotten eggs and garlic around your yard and plants. This doesn’t sound the most appealing, I get it, but if it works it could save your yard.
Plant the more appealing plants closer to your house and windows so you can keep an eye on them and scare off deer when you see them. If you have a dog that you let out often, that may also keep the deer at bay.
Deer don’t like heavy smells (see garlic above), so use plants around your yard that will deter them from getting closer – things like mint, chives, and marigolds.
Not only do deer want to stay away from smelly plants; they also don’t want to eat anything prickly or thorny. So, choose plants by texture as well, like lambs’ ears or roses.
Pick your fruits and vegetables as soon as they are ripe so as to not attract unwanted visitors.
You can try fences, but deer can be sneaky creatures. If nothing else has worked, you might look into suitable materials to surround your garden.
Sensor-activated lights and automatic sprinkler systems can also come in handy when trying to keep all kinds of creatures off your lawn.
Finally, avoid anything poisonous – especially in a yard shared with kids and pets.

Some folks love sharing their homegrown food and plants with deer, but if you’d like to keep them to yourself, try one or more of the tactics above.

Good luck! I know deer are a worthy opponent.

Happy Gardening!

Pragya Mishra is the Founder and Principal of Artscapes, LLC, a Northern Virginia-based landscape architecture firm that specializes in designing outdoor transformations that bring you joy. With 22 years of professional experience, she works closely with each client and her network of top-tier contractors to make each project vision a reality. Follow Artscapes on Instagram @artscapes_living and see examples of past projects on her website, www.artscapesliving.com.