Life With Bambi: Coexisting With My Deer-Loving neighbors
- My Love-Hate Relationship With Bambi
- Surviving the Deer Feast
- Tips on Keeping Deer Away & Keeping a Garden
Lessons on Deer Management: Dealing with Damage Caused, and Preventing Deer from Feasting on Plants
Ah, garden life, with the bees buzzing, the birds chirping, and the squirrels scampering. But there's a downside to this suburban Arcadia - a very hungry, plant-eating, four-legged monster known as Bambi.
Living in a city with a substantial deer population, I quickly learned the hard way that gardens aren't just for us humans. They're also a smorgasbord for these garden-hoppers.
My Love-Hate Relationship With Bambi
Back in the day, when I first moved into my home, gardening wasn't my passion. I let nature take its course, with only occasional weeding and fertilizer. My first successful gardening attempt was planting impatiens and petunias, common choices for beginners. As they thrived, a sense of pride kept me going.
But then, one day, nearly half of my beloved impatiens vanished overnight. I discovered the culprit - a young deer, chomping away on my carefully tended plants. No gardener wants a real-life Bambi destroying their pets.
Surviving the Deer Feast
Deers' love of my garden soon turned into a regular feast, with an extensive menu of plants they could polish off in one sitting. My favorite annuals, from roses to sunflowers, were no match for their appetites. Even plants claimed to be "deer-proof" fell victim to these enthusiastic eaters.
I found myself on a futile quest to combat the plant-eating horde by ignoring the problem and growing victim plants. In my naivety, I didn't understand the lengths deer would go to feed themselves when food is limited.
Tips on Keeping Deer Away & Keeping a Garden
Years of trial and error have taught me that coexisting with deer isn't impossible. Here's what I've learned:
- Selective Planting: The right plants make all the difference. While deer may consume just about anything green, they are less likely to target aromatic herbs, plants with strong scents, or those with rough textures. Opt for deer-resistant options such as lavender, snapdragon, bearded iris, foxglove, marigolds, or rosemary[5].
- ** Strategic Positioning:** Strategically position herbs around more attractive plants. This Jessica-rabbit-esque tactic can help minimize deer damage to your most coveted plants[5].
- Deer Deterrents: Essential oil or garlic-based deer repellents are available from hardware stores like Ace Hardware. Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent is an easy-to-use, effective solution that, when applied to plants regularly, keeps deer aggression at bay[3].
Coexisting with deer is part of the suburban ecosystem, and I've come to accept their presence. I've learned to choose plants they're less likely to devour, and I've invested in deer deterrents to save my garden. If gardens are for bouquets and beauty, it's time we shooed the deer away from our picnics.
Sources:
[1] Ellis, Mary Ellen. "My First Encounter With Bambi The Plant Eater" – The Spruce. October 10, 2015. [Accessed June 21, 2023]
[2] Ellis, Mary Ellen. "10 Common Plants That Are Attractive to Deer – and What to Grow Instead." – The Spruce. August 1, 2020. [Accessed June 21, 2023]
[3] "Liquid Fence Deer & Rabbit Repellent" – Ace Hardware. [Accessed June 21, 2023]
[4] Swindle, B.J. "Hard-to-Kill Perennials That Don't Require Maintenance" – The Spruce. October 8, 2019. [Accessed June 21, 2023]
[5] DuMont, Barbara. "Deer Resistant Plants for residential North America: Our Favorite Deer Resistant Plants and How to Grow Them." – TheSpruce. Accessed June 21, 2023.
- In my suburban garden, I've come to prioritize deer-resistant plants, such as lavender, marigolds, and rosemary, to avoid attractive options that could become Bambi's smorgasbord.
- To protect my garden from deer, I've also started using garlic-based deer repellents like Liquid Fence, which I apply regularly to my plants.
