In New England, we know that deer are ever-present, whether we want them to be or not. They are at once our majestic neighbors and lurking garden menaces. So, what do we do? Homeowners and gardeners try all kinds of things – tall fencing, deer netting, granular and liquid repellents, and downright hoping for the best. One effective strategy we recommend is to select deer-resistant plants. These are plants deer avoid due to texture distaste, chemical content, or other natural reasons. These plants come in a variety of colors, forms, and heights and can fulfill your gardening vision. Here are some of our favorites:

Astilbe

Pictured here with white flowers, astilbe is a shade perennial that, unlike the deer-preferred hosta, will steer clear of browsing damage.

Butterfly bush

Shown with purple flowers here, the butterfly bush attracts pollinators rather than deer.

Helleborus

Good in containers and in the ground, the pale flowers of a helleborus plant add a beautiful contrasting element.

Mountain andromeda

The andromeda is a good-sized shrub with red hues that resists deer damage unlike the mountain laurel.

Salvia and Yarrow

Pictured here together, purple salvia and yellow yarrow complement each other along a stone walkway with unique, vibrant flowers.

Stonecrop ‘Autumn Joy’

A sturdy perennial and one of the only varieties of sedum that can turn a deer away, this stonecrop is just starting to turn pink.

Tickseed

These delicate yellow flowers have a cheerful flair and cover a wide area.

Winterberry

Taking it back to the current season, winterberry offers bright, visible red berries in the cold season that bring the birds along.

If you’re looking to start a new planting or hoping to enhance your existing design, give us a call. We’ll give you the tools to take your yard off the menu.

Cross posted from Ahronian Landscaping & Design with permission