[4seasons]

I live in an area over-run with deer. They will eat absolutely almost everything.
I've even had them eat holly bushes to pieces.
What are some shade/sun perennials that deer usually won't touch? Leaning more on the shady side.
How about dogwoods? I've never seen them eat one yet, but that's not to say they don't.
I'm in zone 5ish. thanks

[Lanelle]

Digitalis is one that deer will leave alone---at least they do here.
Miscanthus grass is another.

[johnkeegan]

Off the top of my head...
Leafed evergreen bushes- Boxwood, Pieris (Andromeda), and (perhaps) Inkberry. "Blue Holly" are definately not deer resistant.
Variegated dogwoods (shrubs) seem resistant but definately not Kousa or Florida.
Spireas are resistant. Rugosa roses.
For "Perennials"-Ornamental grasses. Astilbe. Scented herb-types like salvia, catmints (negeta), lavender. Lady's Mantle. Pulmonaria.
There are others but that's a start.

[4seasons]

I was going to switch out the hostas with something scented, like John suggested. I guess we'll just put in something else besides the PInk dogwood.

[PSUscaper]

Extreme deer damage by me and here is my list.

Shrubs:

boxwood
andromeda
spruce (nest, globe)
junipers
barberry (though they are nibbling them now)
blue mist spirea
ornamental grasses
coreopsis
catmint

that's about it!!!!

Tree wise, I find anything works as long as it is tall enough that they can't reach it. Weeping cherry is usually a goner. I go with nothing under 2.5" cal as that usually puts most of the tree out of reach. There is always the occasional rubbing of the horns, but that is not to much of a concern.

Pretty much at the end of the line in my parts. I refuse to warranty any thing but about 10 shrubs at this point. I had the deer eat 30 spirea last fall. I've seen them take barberry to the ground. There is very little left for me to plant these days.

hostas are like candy to the deer in my area. So are the inkberry holly. and the variegated dogwoods (red twig) are usually gone the next day after I plant them.

I really don't know what the point is anymore. It's kind of nice though, because designing with only 6 plants makes it pretty easy and makes buying in bulk much easier

[TrickyDick]

What they'll eat can vary totally depending on where you are but some shady perennials that have worked well for me are astilbe, columbine, plumbago, geranium, epimedium, ferns. There are other but that's a good start. Shrubs are tougher. Boxwood and Pieris have always done well. Leucothoe, viburnums, winterberry

[Pelican]

I agree with TrickyDick, different herds will avoid different plants and eat others that you would think they wouldn't. It will also depend on how bad your snow cover is and how hungry they are. One I haven't seen mentioned and I have good luck with is dwarf alberta spruce.

[4seasons]

Pelican,
That's the one plant I can't stand Lol!
I wish the deer would eat all of them.
I agree with the snow levels also play a huge factor.
The particular job I'm worried about now happened this fall.

[Ston Wurks]

Bruce; if their hungry enough they'll eat everything but the patio furniture.

[schleng]

Hi Bruce,
I have found that this is the best to go by.
Lawn & Garden: Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance

Susan

[sandim]

Bruce,
We have had clients report deer picking leaves off of almost any plant and spitting them out. Where we are in CT development is so fast the deer have been a real problem due to habitat destruction
We spray deer repellent and we have luckily had good luck with it. This is an added bonus for us as it's one more service we can offer the client.

Also, for the winter, green stakes around the landscape and some fishing line tied taught about at their chest level also works and is not horribly obtrusive. Even though we focus a lot on winter interest, clients don't seem to mind.
Deer are more desperate in winter so this is more extrem, but since they can't see the line, this confuses them and they aren't pushy. We have found if you spray on a regular basis, they will soon stop attempting to eat your work.
Also, try some strongly scented soap hidden on the borders such as Irish Springs.

Good Luck,

Sandi

[4seasons]

is the spraying expensive?
I've tried the soap approach not to bad w/ it.

[sandim]

We buy the spray in concentrate and mix it and put it in a pump sprayer. Profit is about 40%. We charge the client outright for the solution and include the price in our maintenance program. Easy to do, not very time consuming at all. Just work it in so you make a small profit.

We use "Deer Solution", it's all natural (important to us when possible) and very effective when sprayed immediately after installation before they start snacking on your work. It even works on tempting things like tulips. Hostas are like deer ice cream so we don't even go there.
BIG WARNING!!! When you look for your solution, be sure (for your sake) the big ingredient is cloves. This doesn't smell terribly offensive. Cloves are strong, but it's like a super intense cinnamon if you don't know what it smells like. There are many solutions out there and some have the active ingredient of 'putrified egg solids'. Yes, rotten eggs. I won't even go into what that smells like in the middle of July when here in CT it's 98 degrees and 98% humidity. Trust me, learn from my mistake, don't go there!

Sandi

[sandim]

PS,
The putrified eggs may deterr deer, but they encourage raccoons and skunks. You're beautiful installation will be all torn up! NOT a good thing.

[GLAN]

I was sitting next to a gentleman at a trade show Tuesday......One of the continuing education talks was about wildlife.........very interesting.......I don't have a wildlife problem around me........other than recently Racoons.

Anyway......this guy was from Westchester County....a more rural area than mine.

When the speaker was discussing moles and voles and the use of a barrier border.......The guy mentioned to me that doing a several foot wide barrier of pea gravel along the back edge of his property worked very well on keeping deer and other wildlife out of his yard.

I guess it's the loose under footing that the animal does not like

I dunno......if that is the case and why he has been able to keep deer and others out of his yard.......it makes sense.