Re: plants deer LOVE
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: plants deer LOVE
- From: L* M*
- Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 08:37:18 -0600
At 11:44 PM 03/27/00 EST, Bill wrote:
>I was surprised when the deer ate my conifers and roses. They will eat
>almost anything. We have hung soap in plastic bags (helps a little), but
the
>best deterrent I have found is to put wire mesh flat on the ground around
the
>plants you want to protect. Deer don't like to stand on the wire mesh.
I've
>got some old chain link fencing I use for that. But watch out when you mow!
I find that there isn't a "single" method that will deter deer. I use as
many as practical. I hang soap from trees and place chicken wire on the
ground. When periennials start to emerge in the spring I place chicken wire
on top of the garden until the plants can stand a little munching. I've
also used commercial deer deterents but only when the herd is particularly
large. I don't think it will be necessary this year.
As several people have mentioned, deer will eay anything! But I've noticed
that they have preferences and if their favourite plants are available,
they leave their less favourite plants alone. For example, every year deer
will eat my mother's daylilies to the ground but they've never touched
mine. This is the same herd so it's not some kind of genetic difference,
although I do agree genetics play a part in food preferences. The
difference between my garden and my mothers is that I have roses and my mom
does not. Deer really like roses!!!
Anyone else noticed this or am I imagining it. If it's true, perhaps
another way to protect gardens from deer would be to plant a "lure" garden
that would keep deer away from the main garden.
Leslie
zone 3 southern Manitoba
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