Plants Deer Avoid

The plants listed below are varieties that deer do not particularly favor.  Remember, if the deer are hungry they will eat just about anything! They tend to dislike anything that has sticky or cottony leaves.

The varieties marked with an asterisk (*)  are the ones that I have personally used with good success.

Deer Control Q&A

I already have many many plants that the deer like to eat. I try to discourage them by putting out corn and salt licks for them. There is enough food in the area for them to feed on. So I know they aren’t hungry, never the less, they eat my plants. Is there an inexpensive way to discourage them? I have heard of pepper spray, but don’t know anything about it.

 It is reported that the pepper spray or products like Ropel discourage deer. The problem we have in the Northwest is that our rains tend to wash them off of the plants that deer eat.

Dried blood meal hung in nylon socks or fine mesh bags will often help discourage deer, but on four acres it would be expensive.

Motion sensor sprinklers seem to be working quite well, but can be expensive.

On your Sat. Sept. 9th., 2000 Radio program (KVI 570) at just  before 12:00 Noon it was announced to keep tuned for a Swedish formula to repel deer from the garden. We are particularly troubled with deer attacking a large Rose garden.  

Unfortunately the formula was never mentioned. Can you help?   Sure curious to what might be successful in Sweden.

I have not tried this, yet. It was recommended by another Garden Writer. Hope it works!

Swedish Skewers — Deer-Repellent Cubes:

Mix 2.5 lbs of bloodmeal into one bucket of water.

Add 1 cup of ammonia.

Place cubes of green Oasis (the kind used for cut flowers) on  bamboo stakes or skewers. Dip the oasis into the above “soup” — until saturated. (Somewhat like making Fondue!)

Place the Skewered Cube Stakes strategically throughout your garden, hosta patch or naturalized bulb plantings — or wherever deer are problematic. Re-dip the cubes weekly to resaturate.