How to Avoid Deer Damage with Deer Resistant Shrubs and Trees

My Appetite is Destructive !

Hungry deer will eat and damage just about any shrub, tree or plant in your yard. No longer a winter-time only concern, herds of deer are on the increase and doing damage to trees and shrubs year round.

We learned this the hard way, when deer decimated our evergreen shrubs and trees, even those with needles and sharp edges that are normally safe from foraging. White-tail deer chomped on our white pines, yews, holly trees and even blue spruce late at night over a period of weeks.

In addition, male deer damaged tree trunks and limbs by rubbing their antlers to mark territory. And finally, the 'rear end souvenirs' they left all over our yard... not so nice.

I turned to several large nurseries and wholesale plant growers to research which trees and shrubs attract deer and which are considered by professionals to be deer resistant. Annuals and perennials are a separate category and would require a much lengthier list.

This article focuses on helping you avoid deer damage by planting deer resistant shrubs and trees. It also explains how to recognize when deer damage is occurring.

Things You'll Need

• Desire to plant or grow shrubs and trees that are not attractive to deer and to protect or replace the ones deer are attracted to.
• Observation of damage and signs of deer feeding, so you can take action if deer decide they like what you're growing.

Instructions

1. 

   KNOW WHICH PLANTS ATTRACT DEER and CAVEAT EMPTOR

   Deer gravitate to shrubs and trees that are leafy (large or long tender leaves are especially desirable), small-leafed or soft-needled evergreens (like yews or azaleas), and many varieties with flowers, fruit, seeds or vegetables. Deer will eat flower buds, tree and shrub leaves, tender shoots coming off existing plants, and parts of flowers.
   They love corn, tomatoes and many other things grown in suburban gardens.

   The list of shrubs and trees that attract deer is in alphabetical order by category.

   Shrubs: Arborvitae, Azaleas, Rhododendron, Yews.

   Trees: Crabapple, Fruit Trees, Juniper.

   Large Flowering Plants: Hosta, Hydrangea, Roses.

   A note on hydrangeas that's worth knowing. One day in August, deer ate two mature flowering hydrangeas to within 15 inches of the ground during a 4-hour period while we were out running errands. I know this because I pointed the blooms out to my husband that morning as we passed the garden walking to the car. When we returned, there were chewed off and snapped branches and leaves, unbelievable. It was summer, there are forests and trees in leaf and other goodies all around us. They chose the hydrangeas. After years of passing over them.
   New herd? More discriminating tastes?

2. BUY PLANTS AND TREES THAT ARE DEER RESISTANT or UNATTRACTIVE TO DEER

   Deer generally do not like aromatic plants and shrubs (like marigold flowers, boxwood shrubs and lilac trees), plants with sharp-leaves or foliage (like ornamental grass or holly trees), toxic plants or fuzzy-leaf plants (like lamb's ear). The list includes:

   Shrubs: Boxwood(Common), Forsythia, Hollies (American or Chinese), Japanese Cedar, Lilac

   Trees: Birch (River), Bradford Pear, Elms, Flowering Cherry, Dogwood, Maples, Magnolia, Oaks, Redbud

   Evergreen Trees: Spruce, Western & Oriental Arborvitae

   Flowering Vines and Other: Bamboo, Clematis

3. 

   DO YOU SEE or SUSPECT DEER DAMAGE?

   Deer develop travel patterns and favorite locations to rest and to forage, often raising their young where they can train them to eat. Previous damage to trees and shrubs can be a good indicator of future problems. If you buy property and see the lower 3 feet of evergreen trees 'missing' (like mine shown in the photo) or the tops of a hedge of yews clipped off severely, for example, herds of deer have most likely fed themselves here before.

   If you see piles of deer droppings start to accumulate in your yard or on your land, investigate for damage or what they might be feeding on. Snapped and bitten off twigs, ripped or partially chewed leaves, vacant space where previously there were leaves or buds... these are signs of deer feeding.

   If you observe deer feasting on your leyland cypress trees or hydrangea plants and do nothing about it, chances are they will return, when you are at work or sound asleep. Their mostly night-time feeding habits are supplemented throughout the day. A male deer needs up to 10 pounds a day of food to sustain himself. That's ALOT of leaves, flower buds and new plant shoots!

   There are many different approaches, theories, products and services that deal with preventing or eliminating destructive deer in your yard.
   Research them and talk to others who have tried different techniques or products. You will hear or read advice on how to repel deer ranging from (a) using pepper spray on your tender shrubs and trees, (b) hanging ventilated bags of human hair, (c) hanging deodorant soaps, (d) installing plastic fencing too far and high for them to traverse or (e) installing fencing that is electrically charged and has deer-bait hanging from it.

4. WATCH FOR ANTLER-RUBBING DAMAGE TO YOUR TREES by MALE DEER

   Each fall, in roughly September through November, male deer rub their antlers against tree trunks. This territory-marking behavior can cause extensive damage to small saplings, hardwood trees or ornamentals. The trees and shrubs that are most at risk for this destructive behavior have trunk or stem diameters of 6 inches or less. Watch for various stages of rub marks, through bark and into the heartwood of tree limbs and trunks. If you see this, there are steps you can take to prevent further damage and plenty of article online about the subject.

Resources

• My article on feeding deer (inadvertently)