GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - Deer Resistant Shrub Hedge Plant recommendations

[email protected] · 06-04-2009, 08:52 PM posted to rec.gardens

On Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:58:46 -0400, wrote:

Greetings all...

Looking for a few suggestions for Deer Resistant Shrubs that can be used as a hedge.

Something with these characteristics

Zone 6
Dense Compact Shrub
6 - 10' tall
4- 5 ' width
Partial Shade to Full Sun (northeastern exposure.. morning sun_
Evergreen
Highly Deer resistant
Somewhat Drought Tolerant, but is also in a springtime moist location but dries up
during summer.
Medium Growth
Attractive. Berries are fine.....

Need a row about 35 feet long. Looking for a privacy screen, but only of medium height
maybe 10' max. I can purchase larger shrubs for immediate functionality, but can
also do the 3 gallon size and wait 5 years or so.

These will be replacing Russian Olives which grow but are yucky, and euonymous
'manhattan' which never grows because the deer rip it to shreds as soon as it develops a
leaf.

I have Ilex crenata "Chesapeake" small leaf Japanese Holly shrubs
as foundation plantings. They look nice, meet all the criteria
however I'm very concerned that they are 'deer candy' and will be
destroyed if used any distance away from the house.

Leylands are too large, Arborvitae have been ripped to shreds. Carmellia's couldn't
handle temperature ranges and drought. Euonymous and Photinia were both ripped
to shreds ( even when completely wrapped in 'deer netting").

Anyone currently growing something in a similar situation ???

Thanks !!!

Peter

Thanks to all for your help and suggestions....

There's a whole bunch of stuff to try out... I'll probably wind up planting
a combination of Holly and maybe some hemlock into the ground and see what
happens..on a trial basis this year. In the meantime I'm also going to see about
installing temporary fencing to protect the existing plants. (heavy duty real type of
metal fencing, instead of deer netting, which has proved to be ineffective).

Doesn't seem to be a lot of evergreens that deer won't eat if they get hungry
enough. Unfortunately... I've been planting a lot of deer 'candy' ,,,(what's
available in the garden centers).

Thanks again for your help, suggestions and insight, you've been extraordinarily helpful
!!

Peter