Plants Deer Won’t Eat in PA (usually)
It’s a special treat to see a doe and her baby wandering through the woods, but a bit defeating when they decimate your landscape plants.
So we’ve pulled together a list of plants deer won’t eat in PA (usually!) that still add the color, texture and interest you’re looking for, without the worry.
Gardening Tip: Creating a garden with plants deer won’t eat in PA takes planning as no plant is impervious to deer browsing. Deer may or may not like certain plants depending on the herd and the season. Deer are experimental browsing animals with varying tastes. It cannot be said any plant is fully “deer resistant.”
»Deer Non-Preferred Foliage: follow the 3 F’s-Fuzzy (Heuchera), Fragrant (Lavender, Monarda), Fine (Ornamental Grass)
»Understand their behavior: Deer are habitual creatures that will return with their offspring to the best feeding areas. If conditions are not ideal, deer will eat any plant that they can find for food. The younger the shoots and buds are, the more likely a deer is to try (even on resistant plants).
»Learn to Deter: Deer can become acclimated to a certain type of deterrent, so it is important to try a few different types. For example, liquid fence, scented soap, deer scram; Plant resistant plants on the perimeter of the garden to fend off deer from more palatable plants (i.e., Lobelia around Impatiens).
»Set up barriers: Breaking deer of their browsing habit may require physical barriers- Garden wraps, mesh netting, fishing line through gardens, motion detecting sprinklers, plastic tree guards, burlap.
»Seasonality: Heavy deer damage occurs in early spring as new, tender plant growth occurs, deer are starving, and females are rearing young. Colder months force deer to become more exploratory as feeding conditions are stressed due to the weather.
Options by Sun Requirements
If you’re looking for plants deer won’t eat sorted by sunlight.
Sun
SUNFERN™ ARCADIA RUSSIAN WORMWOOD
available for pick up in-store or local delivery
Shade
FEATHERED FRIENDS FANCY FINCH AJUGA
available for pick up in-store or local delivery
Melanie has been with the family garden center business since 1999, gaining hands-on experience in nearly every aspect–from cashiering and greenhouse production to bookkeeping, perennial buying, marketing, and store management. Now serving as Finance and Marketing Director, she combines her expertise with a passion for growing the business. She and her husband, Russ, have loved seeing how plants, gardening, and beautiful landscapes bring joy to our community.
