Don’t let deer eat mums in your fall display with easy tips for protecting your plants.
Do Deer Eat Mums?
Animal scientists call deer opportunistic feeders.
Credit:Rett Peek
They prefer a variety of foods and will eat what is readily available.
When grazing areas are limited, especially in suburban landscapes, deer eat any available plants.
These include evenprickly junipersandintensely scented marigolds, and yes, your freshly potted fall mums.
Put your method of protection in place at the same time you plant orarrange your autumn display.
Deer can destroy unprotected plants in just one night.
Embrace the porch or deck.
Wrap fall displays in chicken wire or wire mesh to deter deer.
Pliable chicken wire and wire mesh are easy toshape over your plants, enclosing the flowers and foliage.
While the covering might appear obtrusive when viewed up close, it nearly disappears when viewed from a distance.
Box stores and farm supply stores carry a variety of lightweight wire products to choose from.
Repellents with odors and flavors that deer find unpleasant can help protect plants.
Move your display off the path.
Deer are creatures of habit.
They usually travel the same general route foraging for food.
Theres a good chance the plants might be safe from damage in these carefully chosen locations.
Dont feed the deer.
This is faulty logic.
Feeding the deer attracts them to the landscape, where they grow comfortable and begin foraging wherever they yo.
Avoid giving deer any reason to visit your property if you want to keep your plants safe from browsing.
