Before & After: A Deer-Resistant English Garden Refresh
For years, the landscape surrounding this 100-year-old home featured a beloved collection of hostas, daylilies, and other classic garden favorites. As deer browsing became more severe with each passing season, the homeowner decided it was time to reimagine the landscape rather than give up on gardening altogether.
Working together, we created a fresh design filled with beautiful, deer-resistant plants that capture the charm of an English garden while requiring less maintenance. To keep the landscape looking its best, our team also returns each spring and fall for seasonal cleanups and ongoing maintenance, helping the homeowner get the most from her investment year after year.
Homeowner: Maureen G.
Location: Crafton, PA
Landscape Designer: Maddison Perzel
Project Timeline
- Landscape Design Consultation: September 2024
- Landscape Design Plan: Winter 2025
- Installation: May 2025
The Challenge
The existing landscape had become increasingly difficult to enjoy as deer browsed many of the homeowner’s favorite plants year after year. Rather than continually replacing damaged hostas, daylilies, and hydrangeas, she wanted a long-term solution that would better withstand deer pressure while preserving the timeless charm of her century-old home. Her goal was a landscape that felt welcoming and full of seasonal beauty, with less maintenance and greater peace of mind.
Project Goals
- Replace deer-favorite plants with deer-resistant selections.
- Create a lower-maintenance landscape.
- Preserve the timeless charm of an English garden.
- Enjoy a landscape that offers beauty throughout the seasons.
Scope & Solutions
- Removed existing plants, including hostas, daylilies, and hydrangeas.
- Prepared planting beds by installing landscape edging and incorporating fresh topsoil and compost.
- Installed a thoughtfully designed landscape featuring carefully selected deer-resistant plants that provide season-long color, texture, and interest.
- Established a seasonal maintenance plan with spring and fall cleanups to keep the landscape healthy and beautiful year after year.
Plant List
(over 90 plants total)
Perennials
- Agastache ‘Guava Lava’
- Amsonia ‘Storm Cloud’
- Aster ‘Woods Light Blue’
- Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ Feather Reed Grass
- Chelone ‘Hot Lips’
- Delphinium ‘Glitzy’
- Gaillardia ‘Spintop Orange Halo Improved’
- Iris ‘Clarence’
- Leadwort (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides)
- Lonicera ‘Major Wheeler’ Honeysuckle
- Monarda ‘Upscale Pink Chenille’
- Nepeta ‘Cat’s Meow’
- Pennisetum ‘Hameln’ Fountain Grass
- Perovskia ‘Denim ‘n Lace’ Russian Sage
- Pulmonaria ‘Pink-a-Blue’
- Salvia ‘Caradonna’
- Salvia ‘Rose Marvel’
- Solidago ‘Golden Fleece’
Shrubs
- Buddleia ‘Pugster Blue’
- Ilex glabra ‘Gem Box’
Customer Feedback
“Bedner’s is friendly, knowledgeable, and took all of my concerns into consideration. Everything was done and presented in a timely manner and I’m completely satisfied.”
Favorite Features
- Deer-resistant plant palette
- Four-season color and texture
- Classic English garden character
- Low-maintenance design
- Professional spring and fall maintenance
This landscape is now easier to maintain, better suited to the property, and designed to provide beauty throughout the seasons. Most importantly, the homeowner can once again enjoy spending time in her garden without the frustration of replacing deer-damaged plants each year.
Every property presents unique opportunities and challenges. A thoughtful landscape design doesn’t just make a yard look beautiful, it solves problems, improves functionality, and creates an outdoor space that fits your lifestyle for years to come.
Bedner’s Farm & Greenhouse provides professional landscape design, installation, and seasonal maintenance for homeowners throughout the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Whether you’re starting with a blank slate or refreshing an established landscape, our team creates custom outdoor spaces designed to thrive in Western Pennsylvania.
Interested in learning more about Bedner’s Landscape Design Services? Learn more here: https://www.bednersgreenhouse.com/landscaping-design/
