One of my favorite things about our home is that we get to see a handful of deer almost every single day. The sight of a deer gets me every single time, and when the babies start to appear in the spring, it’s nothing short of magical. I grew up going to Yosemite every summer and have always been fascinated by these graceful creatures. They are just so beautiful. I love having deer in our yard, but I don’t want the deer eating all my flowers and plants.
To some, deer might be seen as a negative because deer damage flowers and shrubs. But we were determined to have a beautiful garden that would be able to coexist with the deer. One that we could enjoy and that wouldn’t require too much effort to maintain. There are few things more peaceful than sitting on our patio, surrounded by flowers and trees, watching deer walk across the yard. This guide will share best ways to keep deer from eating the flowers and outdoor plants in your garden.
As beautiful as deer are, their presence in your garden can result in a lot of damage, leaving you with chewed leaves, stripped bark, and torn up flower beds. I wanted to keep hungry deer away from our flower beds and young plants in the most safe, natural, and non-invasive way. Preventing deer from destroying your garden requires a combination of different methods, and we’ve tried a few. I’m going to share exactly what worked for us, and what didn’t, along with some other ideas that might be better for your home and garden.
Deer can be a beautiful sight in your garden, but they can also wreak havoc on delicate plants like balsam. With their vibrant flowers and fragrant foliage, balsam plants are irresistible to deer. If you want to enjoy these ornamentals without the damage, there are several effective strategies to safeguard your balsams.
Understand Deer Behavior
To protect your balsams, you need to know what attracts deer to them. Deer are herbivores drawn to the tender leaves, aromatic oils, and easy availability of balsam plants. Deer also forage more when food is scarce like winter or when populations are high. While deer prefer certain foods, they will sample many plants when the opportunity arises.
Choose Deer-Resistant Plants
One easy way to protect balsams is to surround them with plants deer avoid. Options include lavender daffodils spiky plants like succulents, and plants with strong scents. Unpalatable plants along the perimeter can dissuade deer from entering.
Use Physical Barriers
Fencing is the most effective physical barrier against deer. An 8-foot woven wire or electric fence can protect large areas. For individual plants, tube-style protectors prevent rubbing and browsing. Netting over planted areas also obstructs deer access.
Alter the Landscaping
Making your yard less attractive to deer is another deterrent. Avoid plants that deer love and incorporate ones they dislike throughout the landscape. Also, don’t feed deer as this draws them into your garden.
Apply Repellents
Deer repellents make plants taste bad or smell unpleasant. Contact repellents like hot pepper wax directly coat foliage. Area repellents like predator urine create an unappealing scent perimeter. Reapply frequently especially new growth.
Use Scare Tactics
Motion-activated sprinklers and lights startle deer away. Dogs patrolling your property also discourage deer. Change up hazing methods so deer don’t become desensitized. Loud noises or gas cannons can frighten deer.
Allow Hunting Access
Hunting is very effective for managing high deer populations. Fewer deer reduces browsing pressure and disease transmission. If you don’t hunt, grant archery or firearm access on your land.
Combine Multiple Methods
No single solution repels all deer. Use several techniques together for best success. A fence around the perimeter plus repellents on plants provides layered protection. Respond early to damage and be vigilant about maintaining deterrents.
Protecting balsam plants from deer takes commitment, but it is very feasible. Understanding deer behavior helps you choose effective repelling methods. Physical barriers, landscaping design, hazing, and hunting access all make your property less inviting to deer. Employ multiple strategies consistently to safeguard your balsam plants from deer trouble.
What Didn’t Work for Us
We did a lot of research and tried Irish Spring soap bars, which have a strong scent that’s not offensive to people, but deer don’t like it. We didn’t have any issues with the deer, but smaller animals just tore the bags containing the Irish Spring open. Physical barriers like fences weren’t a great option because we didn’t want to fence our flower beds in, and we love deer.
Here are the Flowers in our Garden
Limelight hydrangea Little lime hydrangea Incrediball hydrangea Peonies Knockout roses Green gem boxwoods Lavender Lilacs
Achillea (Yarrow) Agastache (Hyssop) Ajuga (Bugleweed) Alchemilla (Lady’s Mantle) Artemisia (Wormwood) Asclepias (Milkweed) Astilbe (False Goat’s Beard) Baptisia (False Indigo) Bergenia (Pigsqueak) Brunnera (Siberian Bugloss) Centaurea (Bachelor’s Button) Coreopsis (Tickseed) Dianthus (Pinks) Dicentra (Bleeding Heart) Digitalis (Foxglove) Echinacea (Coneflower) Euphorbia (Spurge) Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) Geranium (Cranesbill) Heuchera (Coral Bells) Iris (Bearded Iris) Lavandula (Lavender) Liatris (Blazing Star) Lupinus (Lupine) Monarda (Bee Balm) Nepeta (Catmint) Peonies Papaver (Poppy) Perovskia (Russian Sage) Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan) Salvia (Sage) Sedum (Stonecrop) Stachys (Lamb’s Ear) Veronica (Speedwell)
Ageratum (Floss Flower) Antirrhinum (Snapdragon) Calendula (Pot Marigold) Cleome (Spider Flower) Heliotropium (Heliotrope) Impatiens balsamina (Balsam) Lobelia (Cardinal Flower) Marigold (Tagetes) Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco) Salvia splendens (Scarlet Sage) Zinnia
Berberis (Barberry) Buddleia (Butterfly Bush) Buxus (Boxwood) Caryopteris (Bluebeard) Ceanothus (California Lilac) Chaenomeles (Flowering Quince) Cornus (Dogwood) Cotinus (Smoke Bush) Cotoneaster Elaeagnus (Silverberry) Forsythia Ilex (Holly) Juniperus (Juniper) Ligustrum (Privet) Mahonia (Oregon Grape) Philadelphus (Mock Orange) Potentilla (Cinquefoil) Rhus (Sumac) Rosa rugosa (Rugosa Rose) Spiraea (Spirea) Syringa (Lilac) Viburnum
Allium (Ornamental Onion) Colchicum (Autumn Crocus) Crocus Daffodil (Narcissus) Eranthis (Winter Aconite) Fritillaria Galanthus (Snowdrop) Hyacinth Leucojum (Snowflake) Muscari (Grape Hyacinth) Scilla (Squill) Trillium (Wake Robin)
Lavandula (Lavender) Rosmarinus (Rosemary) Salvia officinalis (Sage) Thymus (Thyme) Origanum (Oregano) Mentha (Mint) Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) Artemisia (Wormwood)
Deer Repellents Don’t Work – How Can You Keep Deer From Eating Your Plants?
FAQ
Do deer eat balsam plants?
How to protect holly bush from deer?
How to keep deer away from plants?
There are effective deer repellent sprays for plant protection. It deters them and keeps them miles away from your plants and crops. Use the one that has a terrible and foul smell. Put it in a spraying bottle, add a small amount of water, and spray it on your plants’ leaves, stems, and fruits. Apply appropriate safety measures.
Can you use deer repellent on potted plants?
If you want to use them on your potted plants, don’t place them inside the pot. Place it close to the pot. You can also use it on plants in your garden. Use strings to hang them on the trees and place them around your beds. 2. Use Commercial Repellent Sprays There are effective deer repellent sprays for plant protection.
What is a garden balsam?
Impatiens Balsamina (Garden Balsam) Impatiens balsamina, commonly referred to as Garden Balsam, is another popular type of balsam plant known for its unique tubular-shaped flowers. These plants come in a range of colors such as pink, purple, red, and white and have a distinct fragrance that adds to their appeal.
How do I protect my trees against deer?
For our tree and shrub program, you can check out our plans here. The first – and perhaps most effective – way to protect your trees against deer is simply not to let them get onto the property in the first place. That means installing a deer-proof fence around the perimeter of the property to send the deer in another direction.