Deer Resistant Gardening

The ins and outs of

Deer Resistant Gardening

Deer browsing is the #1 challenge for gardeners in Northeast Ohio. Fortunately, it’s possible to overcome or work around this issue with a little know-how. Here, we address 3 main ways to keep deer at a distance: implementing physical barriers, applying deer repellents, or selecting deer-resistant plants.

physical barriers

One of the easiest ways to protect your garden investment is by physically protecting or placing your plants out of reach. Hanging baskets can help keep plants up and away from deer and large, raised planters can protect your plants from bunny browsing. Placing netting, fencing, chicken wire, and other physical barriers is also one of the most effective ways to protect your garden or landscape when installed with a height of 6-8 feet tall.

Petitti’s recommends Deer-X® Netting, designed to be a practical option that’s effective and also easy to install.

animal repellents

Petitti’s recommends several products that trigger a taste, smell, or fear response to effectively repel deer and control for other animals. Each product works a little bit differently, so gardeners are encouraged to choose based on preference or need.

Angelo Petitti’s #1 recommendation is Plantskydd®, available in both granular and liquid form. Granules are recommended for sprinkling around plants as they first emerge from the ground, while spray is recommended for misting once foliage has flushed out. I Must Garden®, Repels-All®, Liquid Fence®, and Coyote Urine are also trusted brands recommended and carried by Petitti’s.

deer resistant plants

No plant is 100% “deer-proof”. However, many plants feature traits or characteristics that deer do not like, and so the animals tend to skip over them when passing through a garden. Plants that are thorny (all the way to the tips), prickly, fuzzy, leathery, fragrant (in a good or bad way), or which bleed a milky sap when cut are all excellent indicators of a deer-resistant plant. We’ve compiled a list of annuals, perennials, trees, and shrubs considered ‘deer resistant’ in Northeast Ohio, organized by Good (rarely eaten), Medium (occasionally eaten), and Poor (often eaten) resistance.

tips & tricks

to prevent browsing

Deer are a natural and beautiful part of connecting with nature in the garden. However, when they transition from welcome guests just passing through to unwanted visitors with a tendency to snack, it can be very frustrating. Fortunately, a little effort with physical barriers, deer repellents, and deer-resistant plants can go a long way. Watch this video with Noelle and Jason to learn more about the different types of repellents we offer here at Petitti’s and the benefits of each.

Looking for more information? We’ve got a full playlist of videos on deer-resistant plants + gardening tips.
Watch on YouTube

Angelo Recommends

Plantskydd®

Plantskydd® is an organic animal repellent that’s safe for plants, pollinators, pets, and people. It works to repel animals before they take a bite, not after. Made from natural and upcycled ingredients (dried porcine blood, vegetable oil, and water), it is also the first animal repellent to be listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) as suitable for use in the production of organic food.

Plantskydd’s active ingredient is specially processed porcine blood, which emits an odor and smells like predator activity that triggers a fear response in deer, rabbits, voles, squirrels, chipmunks, moose, and elk. Simply put, it communicates to hungry herbivores that a predator is near and to steer clear of the area!

Because it sticks to plants and won’t easily/quickly wash off or flake away, it doesn’t need to be re-applied after every rain or snow. With a name that means ‘plant protection’, Plantskydd was originally developed in Sweden to protect tree seedlings from deer and moose during the long winters, and is now also Made in the USA.

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