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The overpopulation of deer creates problems year round
Deer populations in neighborhoods have increased rapidly due to abandoned farms, hunting restrictions and suburban sprawl. An adult deer eats between 6 to 10 lbs. of food per day costing homeowners a lot of money.
Tips to Help Prevent Deer Damage
- Deer Repellents. Repellents work best when the weather is warm enough and it retains its odor. The odor lessens when the temperatures are cold. Deer Scram and Liquid Fence are good products.
- Barriers. Before the ground freezes, install wooden posts and use an 8 foot tall woven wire fencing around the area you want to protect. A lower fence can work if it slants away from your yard.
- Plant Deer Resistant Plants. Just remember that deer will eat almost anything if they are hungry enough. But the following plants have good resistance to deer damage.
Trees: Bottlebrush Buckeye, River Birch, American Holly, Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Mimosa, Striped Maple, Common Flowering Quince, Downy Serviceberry.
Shrubs: Devil’s Walking Stick, Barberry, Butterfly Bush, Common Boxwood, Japanese Plum Yew, Leucothoe, Bayberry, Japanese Skimmia, Virginia Creeper, Rhododendons, Azaleas.
Ornamental Grasses: They rarely eat ornamental grasses
Perennials: Threadleaf Coreopsis, Bleeding Heart, Wild Ginger, Christmas Rose, Iris, Mint, Oregano, Peony, Lungwort, Lamb’s Ear, Thyme, Yucca.
Ground Cover: Pachysandra, Sweet Woodruff, Barrenwort, Lily of the Valley, Bugleweed, Bishop’s Weed, Lily turf, Periwinkle.
Bulbs: Ornamental Onion, Autumn Crocus, Daffodils.
This is by no means a complete list….but a start. But remember hungry deer will eat just about anything if they are starving but usually they will pass on resistant plants.
Good Luck on outsmarting Bambi. Give us a call if you have any questions 484-300-4290 or visit www.whitehouselandscaping.com.