deer resistant

By Chris Markham Landscape professionals know there are few obstacles more difficult to deal with than deer control. According to the Quality Deer Management Association, just a single 150 pound white-tailed deer will eat anywhere between 9 to 12 pounds of vegetation per day. On a landscaped lawn, that can mean lots of aesthetic and financial damage, a greater risk for ticks, and unhappy clients. So how do you control deer? Now more than ever, deer have been observed eating plants considered for decades as “deer-resistant.” Green giant arborvitae, coneflowers, and astilbe are just a few of the commonly used landscape plants that deer have taken a liking to in recent years. While no one knows for sure why deer are expanding their palates, there are some obvious trends in deer populations that provide some clues. For one, overdevelopment has limited their wild habitat and forced them to find food on residential properties. Deer don’t seem to mind suburban habitats which often contain lush, irrigated plantings in a safe environment. In some areas, the densest deer populations are found right in the middle of communities. Another reason is that even in wild areas, high deer populations have decimated native understories — only to be replaced by inedible invasive species such as Japanese barberry and Japanese stiltgrass. No Hosta, Daylily Or Yew So what should landscape professionals plant if deer are around? First, avoid anything that deer consider a preferable food. This would include hostas, daylilies, and yews. It is important ...