Some interesting deer resistant stuff
(
http://www.npsot.org/plant_lists/deer_resistant.html):
CAMOUFLAGE GARDENING
By Patti Simons
DEER-RESISTANT PLANTS
"Plants can only be called deer resistant not =3D deer proof. Some plants=
are quite tasty to deer, others less so. Depending on the density of the
deer population, drought =3D conditions and the availability of other mor=
e
palatable plants some plants are more =3D resistant than others. This lis=
t
is an attempt to classify and define, as a food source for deer, the =3D
desirability of many plants typically found in Central Texas."* =
Camouflage Gardening is simply using plants that =3D contain natural
chemicals and have characteristics that deter deer from wanting to eat
them. A =3D scent barrier is created by using a variety of strongly
aromatic plants, shrubs and herbs throughout the =3D garden. =
Deer rely on their sense of smell to determine what is safe and =3D
desirable to eat. A wide variety of strong odors confuse the deer. The
animal will generally =3D leave the area and go to a landscape where it
can clearly identify what it is eating. =
A Deer-Resistant garden =3D can be created by following four easy steps:
1. Plant list #1 specifies many strongly aromatic plants to use, in =3D
ample numbers, throughout the landscape. Use two plants from list #1 for
every one plant on =3D list #3 or #4. =
2. All plants listed #2, have some or all of the =3D following
characteristics: bitter taste, coarse/tough hairy or prickly leaves
and/or caustic milky/sticky sap. Deer rarely eat =3D these plants. Use
these plants freely throughout the landscape. =
3. Plants in this category reseed prolifically, grow rampantly or =3D
spread aggressively by underground roots. Hidden within an aromatic
garden, =3D these #3 plants rapidly reward the homeowner by ceaselessly
increasing in numbers. =
Trees suffer two types of damage from deer: the foliage will be eaten =3D=
to the browse line (appx. 5-1/2' from the ground), and bucks often fight
with and polish their =3D antlers on resilient saplings, tree trunks unde=
r
3" in diameter, and multi-trunk ornamentals. Until the =3D trees mature,
it is wise to protect them with an evergreen scent barrier or a wire
cage. =
4. Once the perennial and evergreen aromatic plants are used in ample =3D=
numbers, list #4, vertical growers (climbing vines and shrubs) and a
limited number of your =3D favorite deer-desirable in-town plants can be
hidden within the scent barrier. =
CAUTION: Deer will eat almost anything in the =3D Spring. This is the tim=
e
when plants are the most tender and are highest in nutrition. This same
Spring-time/lush =3D growth occurs in new nursery stock and when the
gardener constantly fertilizes plants. It =3D will be necessary to spray
with Cloud Cover or other deer repellant for approximately =3D three (3)
weeks while the plants "harden off" and become less palatable to deer. =
Instead of fertilizing, promote growth and blooms by two easier =3D
methods. Providing very healthy soil, through purchase or amendment,
promotes =3D stronger plants that are more deer-resistant, disease free
and are more prolific producers of foliage =3D or fruit.=3D20 =
Deadheading (removing spent blossoms)encourages the =3D plant to bloom
repeatedly in order to set seed. However, the foliage can toughen up
naturally. =
ASK FOR THESE PLANTS BY PROPER NAME - ACCEPT =3D NO SUBSTITUTES =
=A9 1996 Patti Simons email: =3D
=
Elizabeth wrote:
=
Up and down IH-35 between Round Rock and Georgetown, there are beautifu=
l,
flowering shrubs that have huge, long, purple, flowering spikes.
=
What are they and how fast do they grow?
=
--
Elizabeth
-- =
Celestial Habitats by J. Kolenovsky
2003 Honorable Mention Award, Keep Houston Beautiful
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - business. Quoted by the Ho=
uston
Chronicle Lazy Gardener as 1 of 7 best gardening websites in Houston.
=F4=BF=F4 -
http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html - personal