Battling Bambi - Page 13

In our gardens, they seem to instinctively hit our most prized plants - no matter what they are. In my garden, evergreen azaleas, ivy (Hedera helix cvs.) and yew were their winter favorites. When I was successful in preventing them from eating those, they hit my Ajuga, Liriope, Lunaria annua and Pulmonaria (as a last resort). During the growing season, Hosta, Astilbe, Hydrangea, Cimicifuga (now Actea), Polygonatum, Geranium spp. Viola spp. and Begonia grandis were high on their favorites list.

Both ivy and yew (Taxus spp.) are poisonous to domestic livestock. I had a theory that they could eat it because, being browsers, they didn't eat that much at one time. I have since learned that they don't have gall bladders, which permits them to eat plants that are poisonous to most domestic animals.

There is no definitive list of deer proof plants, but the following are those in my USDA zone 7 Maryland garden that my herd either left alone or seldom bothered. Your herd may love them.

Annuals - Biennials
Digitalis purpurea Hesperis matronalis Nicotiana spp. Ricinus communis Tropaeolum majus

Groundcovers
Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum' Cotoneaster 'Scarlet Leader' Galium odoratum Houttynia cordata 'Chameleon' Lamium galeobdolon Lamium maculatum cvs. Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'	Mazus reptans Pachysandra terminalis Symphytum grandiflorum Vinca major 'Variegata' Vinca minor cv.

Bulbs, Tubers & Corms
Allium spp. (ornamental onions) Amorphophallus konjac Arisaema spp. Arum italicum Bletilla striata 'Variegata' Bulbocodium conspicuus Camassia spp. Canna spp. Chionodoxa 'Bright Blue' Colchicum spp. Colocasia spp.	Fritillaria spp. Galanthus nivalis 'Virescens' Ipheion uniflorum Lycoris squamigera Muscari spp. Narcissus spp. Nectaroscordum siculum Pinellia spp. Puschkinia libanotica Scilla spp.

Perennials

Acanthus balcanicus (hungaricus)

Acanthus mollis

Aconitum

Acorus

Acorus gramineus

Agastache

Alchemilla mollis

Amsonia tabernaemontana

Aquilegia

Armeria maritima

Artemisia

Aruncus dioicus

Asarum canadense

Asarum europaeum

Asclepias incarnata

Brunnera macrophylla

Calamintha nepetoides

Carex

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides

Chrysanthemum

Convallaria majalis

Corydalis

Dianthus gratianopolitanus

Dicentra

Echinops ritro

Epimedium

Euphorbia

Geranium macrorrhizum

Helleborus

Iris cristata

Iris ensata

Iris siberica

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6. Feb 9, 2004 1:21 PM
In response to message posted by biogardener:

Good; you're ahead of the game there, Traute. Once your willows get mature, the ...

-- posted by Marge_Talt

5. Feb 8, 2004 11:06 PM
Yes, I have been watching the wire mesh and snipping it where necessary to make sure that the trees can grow normally. I have even pulled some of the wraps off and used them on younger trees. I got ...

-- posted by biogardener

4. Feb 8, 2004 10:38 PM
In response to message posted by biogardener:

Yes, Traute, wire mesh will keep the blighters from eating trees. You may have ...

-- posted by Marge_Talt

3. Feb 8, 2004 3:46 AM
I have a lot of deer on my 20 acres of country property where I have been planting trees. Three years ago, they discovered my willows which I had grown in the low-lying areas by simply sticking branc ...

-- posted by biogardener

2. Feb 7, 2004 12:36 PM
In response to message posted by Howie:

LOL Howie...your traveling tag - eat venison - totally cracked me up!

Well, like I ...

-- posted by Marge_Talt

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