Re: plants deer LOVE
- To:
- Subject: Re: plants deer LOVE
- From: M* T*
- Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 23:35:48 -0500
Well, Bill...have somewhat similar situation, tho' our wild woods is
basically on the east side of the property - runs more or less into
an odd bit of state parkland.
There's no way of fencing the entire property...couldn't afford it;
couldn't maintain it and really don't want to do that - would be
tough, too as there's a very steep sided creek crossing the land at
the bottom of the hill.
I have tried (mostly unsuccessfully) to fence off the parts I have
carved out of the woods for gardens with assorted roll fencing
attached to metal posts and trees - original theory was simply to
make it more difficult for them, as they often will turn aside and
wander in another direction if faced with an obstacle. Have to fence
in groups of really tasty things or they are completely defoliated by
spring. Few plants look as sad as a Yew with no foliage...
They walk up the road and up the drive as well as coming through the
woods:-) You know, you can almost hear the conversation. "Hey,
guys, I'm getting hungry, how about taking a nice stroll up the
street - know a great deli near the corner"...
The fencing helps, but does not stop them from getting into the
garden areas. At least they have to expend some effort to enjoy the
fruits of my labor:-)
Actually, I don't have too many problems in summer (other than
geraniums...they *love* geraniums and daylily buds..what do daylily
flowers look like, anyway? Been so long since I've seen many), but
late fall through winter and early spring, before the woods have
leafed out, is heavy depredation time around here...and, of course,
what is more tasty than new Hosta foliage?
Yes...brazen is the word. They come right up to the house and munch
away...I go racing out yelling at them and they look up as if to say,
"Who, me? Are you speaking to me?" and keep on munching. They will
move off if I yell long and loud enough:-) Have had up to 12 around
the birdbath in my Circle Garden...gets crowded; it's not all that
big a garden. Have seen up to 20 at one time down in the woods. I
usually see them in groups of 3 to 6 - mostly at dusk. Saw my first
antlered buck a week or so ago. Knew there had to be some, but
usually see does and fawns or yearlings, depending on time of year.
If you surprise one, it will let out the most indescribable squawk
before it turns up that white flag of a tail and sails off over the
fencing as though it wasn't even there. They are amazingly quiet,
even in full gallop..just a small amount of crackling brush sounds
and they melt right into the woods. They will go maybe 50 or so feet
into the woods and stop and stand and stare at you.
They are truly majestic animals. When we first moved here, I used to
be so thrilled to look out the window and see them. Really had few
plant munching problems in the early days. They came to enjoy the
crabapples mostly. Took a few bites of things growing near them, but
generally left the garden plants alone.
But, over the years, most of the farm and wood land around here has
been turned into housing and their territory has shrunk considerably,
but not their numbers. Think it's been about 10 - 12 years of
increasing difficulties with them using the garden as their
smorgasbord.
They do not migrate, you know. They stay forever in the area where
they were born - relatively small territories. If they eat all the
vegetation, they starve....which, unfortunately, is happening more
and more. The herds are not healthy. It's a real problem in
suburban areas around here, as there are no natural predators and no
hunting allowed, but their reproductive systems don't know this, so
they reproduce as if they were in danger of becoming extinct...
Suburban yards and gardens surrounded by woody areas are just the
type of woodland edge environment that they love and they think that
we plant all those tasty plants just for them.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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> From: Blee811@aol.com
> Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 7:51 AM
>
> The bamboo sounds like a good idea, Marge. None of this is
practical,
> though, for my 7 acres n the middle of the woods. The deer and I
just have
> to learn to live with each other. They're so brazen that they'll
come within
> 5 feet of the house to drink from the birdbath. And this winter
they were
> standing on the ice in my small ornamental pond to get at the
bordering
> plants. And I agree with you on not wanting to hurt them. They're
gorgeous
> animals.
> Bill Lee
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