The Emerald Green Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Emerald Green’) is a popular landscape choice, prized for its dense, columnar growth habit, making it an ideal privacy screen. This deep green evergreen provides year-round color and structure, leading many homeowners to plant it along property lines. However, the plant’s popularity is matched by concern regarding deer browsing. The direct answer is yes: deer do eat the Emerald Green Arborvitae, often causing significant damage.
The Deer’s Diet: Is Emerald Green Arborvitae a Target?
Deer are attracted to the Thuja occidentalis species, which includes the ‘Emerald Green’ cultivar, because of its relatively soft, palatable foliage compared to other evergreens. Unlike some conifers that possess tough or waxy foliage, the needles of the ‘Emerald Green’ are tender and easy for a deer to consume. This makes it a preferred food source, even though it may not be a highly nutritious part of their overall diet.
Browsing pressure intensifies during the late fall and winter months, or during periods of drought, when natural forage becomes scarce or covered in snow. When deer are hungry, they become less selective and will readily turn to landscape plants like arborvitae. The evergreen nature of the arborvitae means it offers available, above-ground food when most deciduous plants are dormant. This consistent availability turns the ‘Emerald Green’ into a winter cafeteria for local deer populations, distinguishing it from related cultivars like the ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae (Thuja plicata x standishii), which is considered more deer-resistant due to its tougher foliage.
Recognizing and Diagnosing Deer Damage
Identifying deer damage is the first step toward effective mitigation, as the symptoms can sometimes be confused with winter burn or damage from smaller rodents. Deer browsing is characterized by a ripped or torn appearance at the ends of the branches. This ragged edge occurs because deer lack lower incisor teeth and must tear or pull the foliage away rather than making a clean cut.
The height of the damage is another strong indicator, typically occurring between one and six feet off the ground, which corresponds to the deer’s reach. Repeated browsing results in a distinct visual effect known as a “browse line,” where all foliage below a certain height is missing, giving the tree a noticeable “skirt” or lollipop shape. In contrast, damage from rabbits or voles will appear as clean, angled cuts and is concentrated close to the ground, often just above the snow line.
Practical Methods for Protecting Your Arborvitae
The most reliable defense against deer browsing involves using physical exclusion methods, as a direct barrier is the only guaranteed way to stop a hungry animal.
Physical Barriers
For individual trees or small groupings, temporary cages constructed from plastic netting or wire mesh can be installed for the winter season. The barrier must extend seven to eight feet tall, since deer are capable of jumping significant heights. For protecting a long hedge, installing a high-tensile plastic deer fence or wire fencing around the entire perimeter is the most effective long-term solution. This fencing should be securely anchored to the ground to prevent deer from pushing underneath it. A simpler, temporary option for winter is wrapping the trees in sturdy burlap or specialized tree wrap, supported by stakes to prevent snow damage.
Chemical Repellents
Chemical repellents offer a secondary defense by deterring deer through unpleasant taste or smell. Taste-based repellents, often containing putrescent egg solids, must be applied directly to the foliage the deer are eating. Scent-based products, which utilize strong odors like predator urine or blood meal, can be applied to the surrounding area or to the plants themselves.
To maintain effectiveness, repellents require consistent reapplication, particularly after rain or heavy snow, which washes the active ingredients away. It is beneficial to rotate between two or three different types of repellents throughout the season to prevent deer from becoming accustomed to a single odor or flavor. A multi-pronged approach combining fencing with properly maintained repellents offers the best protection for your ‘Emerald Green’ Arborvitae.