When I pulled into the long drive leading to my son's new home in Mississippi, the first thing I noticed were three pairs of eyes reflected in the headlights. The local deer were already checking out the new landscaping and conducting taste tests! It didn't take long to discover the deer approved of the new ornamental trees and flowers. Clearly a plan was needed to allow enjoyment of the wildlife while also protecting landscape plants from becoming a daily smorgasbord for the area's deer population.
The property consists of 7 acres and is bordered by dense wooded areas on two sides. There is a sufficient food supply for the deer population in the area so our goal was to make the foundation and landscape plantings unattractive. Two acres toward the rear of the property were dedicated to wildlife. The acreage had been cleared but was now seeded with wild grasses and saplings allowed to grow where seeds had landed.
At the front side of what we called the "deer run" are several rows of buffalo grass and other perennial plants that deer aren't too fond of. These are my deer proof shrubs. This is known a camouflage planting where natural chemicals or characteristics such as stickers or milky sap deter deer. The plants may be bitter tasting or strongly aromatic. Plants for this area are still being tested. Some have been ignored by the deer as planned while other plants have been nibbled to the ground.
The only task left was to provide protection for the flowers, shrubs and small trees newly planted in the large yard surrounding the house. The goal was to discourage both deer and rabbits without harming them and without a scent that that would repel people, too. I needed to stop the deer from eating my flowers and I didn’t think there were any deer proof flowers! The solution was Havahart Deer Off II which is formulated to repel the animals with a scent which makes wildlife think there is a predator in the area. One application in early March protects new plant growth while a second application planned for June will ensure the blooms and foliage will remain on display in the yard through the summer months.
I'm a lazy gardener so would have simply relied on applying Deer Off II as protection against nibbly critters but my son's family felt that offering an open space where deer are encouraged to graze and strip small trees would allow them an area where deer could be seen frequently while also protecting their landscape plantings. So far, I'll admit their plan is a good one as the deer visit the back acreage on a daily basis while the lawn plantings are ignored.
