This discussion has been closed.
Posted by pitstop57 (U15165969) on Monday, 27th February 2012
A deer has recently started eating my plants, and has eaten all my tulips and had a good go at my pansies. Does anyone have any tips about how to deter deer? If I can't, I'm wondering if it's worth planting anything for summer.
A deer has recently started eating my plants, and has eaten all my tulips and had a good go at my pansies. Does anyone have any tips about how to deter deer? If I can't, I'm wondering if it's worth planting anything for summer. I sympathise! I live in an area where there are many semi-wild deer and they are very difficult to keep at bay, especially in the winter when they see garden plants as easy pickings. I'm afraid a physical barrier is the only deterrent that really works - a high wooden or wire fence, or thick hedging.
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by daisydelight (U14163419) on Tuesday, 28th February 2012
I know its the last thing you want to hear but you are lucky, lucky, lucky.
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Tuesday, 28th February 2012
Venison.
I know its the last thing you want to hear but you are lucky, lucky, lucky. I do have mixed feelings about them. It's great to see them in winter up my lane after dark, and hear them rutting in season, but they have a terrible habit of jumping out in front of cars (and where there is one there are usually more). The main method of control (if you can call it that) is road accidents. Ours are only small roe deer but you can imagine what a full-grown buck can do to a car and its occupants. I do wonder why local butchers can't apply for licences to cull and sell the venison.
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by garyhobson (U11055016) on Wednesday, 29th February 2012
Deer can be a nuisance. There are a few around my garden, though not so many as to be a real problem.
Deer tend to like eating some plants more than others. They are particularly partial to young rose shoots, despite the fact that they are thorny. So if the roses are browsed in Spring, you've lost the blooms for that year. A bit like your tulips.
Deer also like browsing hardy geraniums, which does little long term harm; these plants always recover.
But some plants are not touched.
One answer is simply to observe which plants are not touched in your garden, and to grow them, or similar plants.
This is a list of deer resistant plants, provided by the RHS:
, in reply to message 6.
Posted by daisydelight (U14163419) on Wednesday, 29th February 2012
Perhaps not so lucky after all. Lovely from a distance though.
³Õ±ð²Ô¾±²õ´Ç²Ô.Ìý Tee hee!! I do have a friend who is a butcher who also hunts......
, in reply to message 8.
Posted by pitstop57 (U15165969) on Wednesday, 29th February 2012
daisydelight, I would possibly not mind so much had i ever seen it, but the only person who has is my husband who leaves very early for work, and who met it almost nose to nose as he went out the front door. And much as i like wildlife in the garden, i prefer sleep!
, in reply to message 7.
Posted by pitstop57 (U15165969) on Wednesday, 29th February 2012
Thanks Gary, i have had a look at this and it has been very helpful, I have lots of ideas now for alternative planting this year. Brilliant!!
, in reply to message 11.
Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Thursday, 1st March 2012
I had a garden which a red deer started visiting. I think it may originally have been attracted by fallen apples, but it very quickly wrecked the place - tore branches off trees and shrubs, ploughed the lawn, etc.
Welcome to the new Gardening Board. If this is your first time, then make sure you check out the
or  to take part in a discussion.
The message board is currently closed for posting.
Weekdays 09:00-00:00
Weekends 10:00-00:00
This messageboard is .
Find out more about this board's
Â鶹Éç © 2014 The Â鶹Éç is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.