Gardening Under Pressure: Choosing Deer-Resistant Plants for Southeast PA

Taming the Deer: A Guide to Deer-Resistant Gardening in Southeast PA

Southeast Pennsylvania, with its rolling hills and lush landscapes, is a gardener’s paradise. However, this beauty comes with a challenge: deer. These graceful creatures can quickly turn a thriving garden into a buffet, leaving behind a trail of devastation. But don’t despair! With careful planning and the right plant choices, you can create a beautiful, deer-resistant garden that thrives.

Understanding the Deer Dilemma

Before diving into plant selections, it’s crucial to understand deer behavior. Deer are opportunistic feeders, and their preferences can vary based on availability and the season. While no plant is entirely deer-proof, some are far less appealing than others. Factors influencing deer resistance include:

• Strong Scents: Plants with potent aromas, whether pleasant or not to humans, often deter deer. This includes herbs like lavender, mint, and rosemary.
• Coarse or Fuzzy Foliage: Deer tend to avoid plants with rough textures or hairy leaves.
• Toxic or Unpalatable Substances: Some plants contain compounds that are distasteful or even harmful to deer.
• Prickly or Thorny Features: Plants with thorns or sharp edges offer a natural defense.

Designing Your Deer-Resistant Garden

Consider these strategies when planning your garden:

• Bordering for Defense: A strategically planted border can act as a first line of defense. Aim for a 1.5 to 2-foot wide barrier of deer-resistant plants around vulnerable areas.
• Layering Plants: Mix and match plants with varying heights and textures to create visual interest and deter deer from easily accessing everything.
• Strategic Placement: Place the most vulnerable plants within the protection of the deer-resistant border or near your home.
• Motion-Activated Sprinklers: Supplement your plant choices with motion-activated sprinklers. Deer are easily startled by sudden movements and water, and these devices can be highly effective in deterring them.
• Fencing (Partial): While a full fence might be undesirable, consider a low fence or decorative barrier around specific, highly-prized plants.

Deer-Resistant Plant Recommendations for Southeast PA

Here’s a selection of deer-resistant plants that thrive in Southeast Pennsylvania, categorized for easy planning. This list is not exhaustive, but provides a solid starting point.

Perennials:

• Lavender (Lavandula): Known for its beautiful purple flowers and strong fragrance, lavender is a deer deterrent and a favorite of pollinators. ‘Munstead’ and ‘Provence’ varieties are particularly hardy.
• Bee Balm (Monarda): This vibrant perennial with unique flower heads is attractive to hummingbirds but usually avoided by deer. Choose from a range of colors, including red, pink, and purple.
• Coneflower (Echinacea): Another favorite of pollinators, coneflowers offer a variety of colors and are relatively low-maintenance. Their coarse foliage is also unappealing to deer.
• Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia): This plant provides beautiful silvery foliage, a lovely scent, and striking blue flowers. It’s drought-tolerant and deer-resistant.
• Catmint (Nepeta): While cats love catmint, deer generally avoid it. It has attractive gray-green foliage and lavender-blue flowers.
• Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis): This shade-loving plant with heart-shaped flowers is generally left alone by deer. Provide it with rich, moist soil.
• Hellebores (Helleborus): Also known as Lenten roses, hellebores have leathery foliage and produce early spring blooms. Deer tend to avoid them.
• Peonies (Paeonia): While deer may nibble on the buds in early spring, mature peony plants are generally considered deer-resistant.
• Irises (Iris): Most iris varieties are deer resistant because of their rhizomes which can cause stomach upset if ingested.
• Coreopsis (Coreopsis): This sun-loving perennial with daisy-like flowers is usually ignored by deer.

Shrubs:

• Boxwood (Buxus): This evergreen shrub is often used for hedges and topiary. Its dense foliage and strong scent make it deer-resistant.
• Butterfly Bush (Buddleja): While deer might nibble on new growth, butterfly bushes are generally deer-resistant, and they attract butterflies.
• Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus): This fragrant herb is a great choice for borders or container gardening. It’s deer-resistant and adds culinary value.
• Spirea (Spiraea): Available in various cultivars, Spirea is a deciduous shrub known for its beautiful flowers and relatively low deer appeal.
• Juniper (Juniperus): Evergreen junipers provide dense foliage and are generally deer-resistant.
• Barberry (Berberis): While some consider it invasive, Barberry offers thorny branches, making it a deterrent to deer. They also offer beautiful fall color.

Annuals:

• Marigolds (Tagetes): The strong scent of marigolds repels many pests, including deer.
• Petunias (Petunia): These colorful annuals are generally deer-resistant, especially the more fragrant varieties.
• Snapdragons (Antirrhinum): With their unique flower shapes, snapdragons are usually left alone by deer.
• Zinnias (Zinnia): These colorful annuals are typically ignored by deer, but they attract butterflies.

Bulbs:

• Daffodils (Narcissus): Daffodils contain toxins that deter deer. Plant them in mass for a stunning spring display.
• Allium: These ornamental onions have a strong scent and are usually deer-resistant.

Additional Tips for Success

• Observe Your Garden: Pay attention to which plants the deer are targeting. Adjust your planting strategy based on your observations.
• Vary Your Plants: A diverse garden is less likely to be completely wiped out. Plant a variety of species with different characteristics.
• Use Repellents: Supplement your plant choices with deer repellents. Apply them regularly, especially after rain or watering.
• Protect Young Plants: Deer are more likely to browse on young, tender plants. Provide extra protection for seedlings and newly planted shrubs.
• Fertilize Judiciously: Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to lush, tender growth that is more appealing to deer.
• Consider companion planting: Some plants, such as onions and garlic, are known to repel deer when planted near vulnerable plants.

Conclusion

Gardening in Southeast PA doesn’t have to be a battle against deer. With careful plant selection, strategic design, and a proactive approach, you can create a thriving and beautiful garden that coexists peacefully with these graceful creatures. Embrace the challenge, experiment with different plants, and enjoy the rewards of a deer-resistant landscape. Your garden oasis awaits!