deer in your garden

Are there deer in your garden? Follow these tips to keep them out.

Deer are known for their graceful countenance. However, they’re not so graceful when they wander into your yard and start trampling and eating your carefully planted shrubs and flowers! Luckily, there are things you can do to discourage deer from entering your property. We’ll take a look at these preventative measures, but first, let’s take a look at why deer are attracted to your flower beds in the first place.

Why Are There Deer in Your Garden?

Seeing a deer feels magical and breathtaking…until you realize they’re eating your tomato plants, that is. There are reasons that deer will leave the seclusion of a wooded area and stray onto your lawn. Generally, there are three things in your backyard that will attract deer: plant material, a water source, or lawn fungi. When it comes to plants, deer will eat almost anything to survive, but some plants offer extra nutrients and flavor that are more attractive to deer than what the plants in the woods can offer. If you have any of the following plants in your yard, you may come across and deer or two munching away at them:

  • Blackberry
  • Spicebush
  • Juniper
  • Hawthorn
  • Flowering dogwood
  • Fruit trees
  • Rhododendrons
  • Taxus
  • Asters
  • Clover
  • Sunflowers
  • Verbena
  • Wild strawberry
  • Geraniums
  • Hostas
  • Ferns

Getting their fill of lush, tasty plants is one reason you may find deer in your garden. Another is the chance to wash it down with some fresh water. Whether it’s water in a kiddie pool, bird bath, coy pond, or even a deep puddle, deer will jump at the opportunity to get a drink, especially in the hot summer.

The final reason you may have deer in your yard is because they are munching on mushrooms growing in the shady parts of your lawn. Mushrooms actually don’t do any damage to existing plants, so letting the deer eat them is fine. It’s when the deer move from the mushrooms to your Rhododendrons that there’s a problem. But thankfully, this problem can be prevented.

How to Keep Deer Out of Your Backyard

Just as there are some plants that are irresistible to deer, there are others that deer won’t touch. Rutgers University has created this handy list that accounts for all the plants that are deer-resistant. Here are a few of our favorites:

  • Brunnera
  • Lily-of-the-Valley
  • Lungwort
  • Sea Holly
  • Virginia Bluebells

If you don’t want to replant your entire landscape with deer-resistant plants, there are many alternative steps you can take to ensure your garden is deer free. Here are a few tips:

  • If you are growing fruits or vegetables, try to stay on top of harvesting.
  • Decorate with wind chimes, shiny objects, and ornaments with moving parts that will scare away deer.
  • Build a deer fence around your property.
  • Apply a deer repellent around the perimeter of your property. Be sure to reapply after it rains, and switch up brands from time to time to prevent the deer from building an immunity to the repellent.

Design a Deer-Proof Landscape with Rhine Landscaping

We’ve got extensive background in landscaping, so that you can feel assured your lawn will be taken care of correctly, no matter what.  Our landscaping experts  will help to make your landscaping dreams a reality, and your property the talk of the town.

Landscapes are complicated to design and implement.  If you’re ready to call for help, then you can contact Rhine Landscaping by giving us a call at 410-442-2445. We’ve got the knowledge your landscape needs to get it ready for summer.

You can also contact us on our website. We can help you plan, plant, and create the yard of your dreams. You can also check out our blogs to stay on top of landscaping trends and tips.

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