Even though I live a few miles away from Jackson in a semi country-side, I have never had trouble with deer eating any of my flowers or plants, UNTIL this past fall. I guess I bragged to my neighbors, who had been battling the deer non-stop for many years, too much! So, I planted my beautiful yellow pansies one weekend last fall, and a couple of nights later, when I got home from work after dark, I noticed that they had all wilted even though I had watered them. Correction….I THOUGHT they had wilted.
Well, the next morning, I was in for a surprise: the pansies had not wilted, the delicate flowers had been EATEN and only the leaves remained. Boy, was I mad! I had liked deer up until then, being an animal lover, and I would often slow down, roll down my window and gaze at their beauty, but now, I don’t feel as lovable toward them as I did! I am told that pansies are like candy to deer. Well, if they like that kind of candy, I can’t satisfy their wish!
So, now I am in the category of other gardeners who try to plant deer resistant flowers and plants. We are really lucky in one area at least: deer hate daffodils and other bulbs, so at least I’m safe there. But, now I have to think about one more thing besides light and water requirements when I buy new flowers: I have to think about the deer too! To help my search with deer proof vegetation, I use two books we have in the gardening section at Lemuria: Deerproofing Your Yard & Garden by Rhonda Massingham Hart and Deer Resistant Landscaping:Proven Advice and Strategies for Outwitting Deer and Other Pesky Mammals by Neil Soderstrom.
Deer Resistant Landscaping includes chapters on how to outwit other pesks such as voles, which Mississippi gardeners battle often, and crafty squirrels as well! In both of these excellent comprehensive manuals, many plant lists appear which help the gardener make wise choices. So, if we have another hot summer, which, of course, is a given, and if we experience a drought, which also may be a given, then the deer will be hungry and thirsty. Make them find somewhere else besides your yard to have their next feast! Come take a look at these books–I think you’ll want both on your gardening bookshelf. -Nan
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