Deer do eat cherry blossom trees. While they might not be their first choice in a landscape with abundant preferred vegetation, deer consider them a palatable food source, especially when other options become scarce. The trees are vulnerable where natural deer habitat is shrinking or during times of environmental stress. Understanding how and why deer target these ornamental trees is the first step in effective protection.
The Direct Answer: Palatability and Preferred Parts
Deer primarily consume the tender, new growth of the cherry tree. In the spring and summer, they favor the soft, succulent leaves and the plump, developing flower buds. This preference for new shoots is driven by the higher moisture content and nutritional value found in fresh foliage.
As other food sources diminish, a deer’s diet shifts, making other parts of the cherry tree targets. During the winter months, when the ground is frozen or covered in snow, they will resort to eating twigs and the young, smooth bark of saplings. This consumption of bark can remove the cambium layer, which transports water and nutrients throughout the tree.
Why Deer Target Cherry Trees
Cherry trees become attractive to deer under specific environmental and seasonal conditions, despite not being a primary food source. Lack of alternative forage is a major factor, particularly during the late fall and winter seasons. When natural browsing material is scarce, deer become less selective and will target available ornamental plants like cherry trees to meet their nutritional needs.
Drought conditions in summer also increase the appeal of cherry trees, as their tender shoots and leaves offer a rare source of moisture and soft forage. Trees planted close to wooded areas or known deer bedding grounds face increased consumption pressure. These factors combine to make an otherwise moderately palatable tree a desirable meal.
Identifying Deer Damage
Deer lack upper incisor teeth, meaning they cannot make a clean cut when they eat a twig or branch. Instead, they tear and pull the vegetation, leaving behind a ragged or frayed edge on the remaining stem.
Deer typically browse at a height that is comfortable for them, which creates a noticeable “browsing line” on the tree, often occurring between 1.5 to 6 feet from the ground. Another form of damage is buck rub, which occurs mainly in late summer and fall when male deer scrape their antlers on young trunks to remove velvet and mark territory. This rubbing strips the bark off the trunk in vertical gashes, which can girdle a young cherry tree.
Effective Strategies for Protecting Trees
The most reliable method for protecting cherry blossom trees from deer is the use of physical barriers. For young saplings, installing tree tubes or wire mesh cages around the trunk can prevent both browsing and buck rub damage. For broader protection, temporary or permanent perimeter fencing must be at least eight feet tall since deer are capable jumpers.
Topical repellents offer a secondary defense by making the tree unpalatable or offensive to smell. These products include taste-based deterrents, which are applied directly to the foliage, and scent-based options. Repellents require regular reapplication, particularly after heavy rain or during periods of new growth, to maintain their effectiveness against persistent feeding pressure.