Deer undoubtedly look beautiful, but when it comes to the garden, it’s not pleasing to see them. Deer intrude on the garden when there is a dearth of food in the surrounding areas. In search of food, they damage the beautiful winter blooms in the garden, which is otherwise a sight to admire. In such a situation, the simplest way to deal with the problem is to plant deer-resistant winter flowers or adopt some alternate method. Fencing and applying repellant is also the solution, but investing in a tall fence is not always possible.
Planting flowers deer are not fond of is important to save the garden from deer. No matter how much food scarcity deer face, they will never enter your garden. Here is the list of deer-resistant winter flowers:
Hellebores
This hardy perennial is one of the highly preferred deer-resistant winter flowers. It blooms from late winter into early spring. Deer hate the toxic nature of the tough leaves. Hellebores' best features are their bold color and resistance to harsh winter weather.
Bee Balm
This perennial is loved by gardeners owing to its vibrant summer blossoms, which attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. However, deer hate its minty-scented foliage. Bee balm's best feature is its resistance to powdery mildew.
Catmint
Another deer-resistant perennial is catmint. It’s a dwarf variety preferred as edging for vegetable gardens and rose beds. Deer hate its fragrant foliage and bright lavender-purple blossoms. The best feature is that it requires no food or water. Plant it and relax!
Winter Aconite
It gives a yellow bloom in early winter. The bloom's toxic property makes it deer-resistant to winter aconite. Winter aconite fills the garden with beautiful blooms in late January or February. Apart from being deer-resistant, it is also preferred because of its minimal maintenance and easy-to-grow properties.
Snowdrops
These delicate flowers bloom in late winter and look like white bells. Due to their toxic bulbs, they are ideal for keeping deer away from the garden. The best feature is their low maintenance and ability to tolerate harsh winter conditions.
Japanese Anemone
This is a great choice to repel deer and attract bees and butterflies. It is a blooming perennial with bright rose-pink flowers. Japanese anemones can also act as a captivating border if paired with ornamental grasses.
Purple Coneflower
This is a deer-resistant flower that is preferred as a border plant. The pink or purple flowers attract bees and keep deer away. The best feature is that it grows in almost all regions of the country.
Cyclamen
This is another winter flowering plant loved for its beautiful pink petals and various colors. Cyclamen is the show-stopper of the winter garden, which thrives in shady green areas. The primary reason why deer don’t like cyclamen is its waxy leaves. The low maintenance and vibrant color make it a favorite choice for gardeners.
Pansies
Though pansies are known as spring flowers, they thrive in mild winter climates. Pansies are deer-resistant flowers because deer hate to munch flowers owing to their bitter taste. These flowers are perfect for any garden due to their ability to bloom through winter.
Hardy Ice Plant
The hardy ice plant has a stunning flower with a dual color and cream center, which makes it stand out from the crowd of other flowers. The fuzzy foliage of the plant keeps the deer away.
Bleeding Heart
As the name suggests, a bleeding heart has heart-shaped flowers hanging from the stem, looking like a bleeding heart. Though the foliage is ferny and the flowers are eye-catching, deer do not like them. It’s a shade-loving plant that blooms in cool weather.
Lavender
Deer do not like the fuzzy leaves of lavender. Hence, it is used as a deer-resistant plant. It is loved due to the sweet fragrance of its purple flowers. It can brighten up the indoor space with its purple beauty.
Ornamental Onion
Like many humans, deer are not fond of onions, but they are not real onions; rather, they are ornamental onions. The ornamental onion has a purple ball-shaped bloom that is loved by bees and butterflies. The best feature is that it gets denser with each bloom every year.
Alternate Methods to Keep Deer Away From the Garden
Apart from the winter flowers to deter deer, there are other simple options to keep them away. Here are a few tips to keep them away:
Hang wind chimes- Sudden loud noise frightens deer, so hanging wind chimes from the trees can keep deer away from the surrounding area.
Plant herbs that deer hate- There are perennial herbs with aromas like mint, thyme, chives, and sage that deer hate. It's the best way to deter them.
Use deer repellant or fertilizer- Treat the area with deer repellant where new leaves and shoots of the undercover emerge. Deer love to munch the newly grown leaves.
Put plants at a height- Another smart way to stop deer nibble annuals is by hanging the pots containing annuals at a height.
Fencing- Tall deer fencing is another way to naturally avoid deer in your garden.
Conclusion
Keeping the garden free from deer is important for a lush green winter garden. The various deer-resistant winter flowers mentioned above in the article keep deer away from the garden and help maintain a vibrant and beautiful garden. There are alternatives to plants which can also be used to repel deer.
