Geese are a familiar sight in parks, suburban areas, and near water features. As large waterfowl, their herbivorous diet consists primarily of plants, leading to conflicts with meticulously maintained landscaping. Understanding the specific feeding habits of these persistent grazers provides the necessary context for protecting a garden from unwanted foraging and damage.
Specific Floral Preferences and Damage
Geese do eat flowers, particularly those with tender structures and high nutritional content. They are selective foragers, preferring new growth, soft petals, and succulent stems over mature, fibrous plant parts. This often results in the quick destruction of delicate annuals and newly emerging perennials. Gardeners frequently report damage to plants like lilies, moss roses, and young hosta shoots, which offer easy-to-digest foliage.
Beyond direct consumption, geese inflict considerable damage simply by moving through a garden, as their large size and webbed feet easily trample smaller flora. They generally avoid plants with strong scents, tough leaves, or known toxicity, such as those with high tannin or alkaloid content. Less palatable options include certain ferns and plants with fuzzy or coarse textures.
The Broader Herbivorous Diet of Geese
While they will consume flowers, the primary forage for geese remains grasses and other low-lying vegetation. Geese are grazers who show a distinct preference for short, manicured turf because it provides easily accessible, high-protein young shoots. This preference is a major reason why lawns and gardens adjacent to water sources become so attractive to them.
Their diet is not limited to land-based plants; they also consume a variety of aquatic vegetation, roots, seeds, and grains when available. Geese seek out food sources that are rich in nitrogen, especially during the spring and summer when they are raising their young. A well-fertilized, irrigated garden often mimics the nutrient-dense, high-quality forage they naturally seek, making ornamental plants an appealing secondary food source.
Practical Methods for Garden Protection
Protecting ornamental plants requires implementing a combination of strategies that make the area less appealing and physically inaccessible.
Physical Barriers and Landscape Modification
Physical barriers are highly effective, with low-profile fencing, such as plastic netting or wire mesh, being a practical solution for flowerbeds. Fences should be at least 30 inches tall, as geese are reluctant to step over a barrier this high if they cannot see a clear path on the other side. Modifying the landscape around the garden can also discourage their presence by disrupting their sense of safety and visibility. Allowing grass to grow taller than six inches near garden borders reduces their ability to spot predators, making the area less comfortable for foraging. Planting dense, tall shrubs or coarse, native grasses along shorelines creates a visual obstruction that geese typically avoid.
Repellents and Deterrents
Taste-based repellents offer a humane layer of protection by applying a non-toxic compound that makes treated vegetation unpalatable to geese without causing harm. These compounds often contain anthraquinone, a substance that causes temporary digestive discomfort, training the birds to avoid the area after a few experiences. Visual deterrents, such as predator decoys or reflective tape, can also be used. These must be moved frequently, however, to prevent the geese from becoming accustomed to their presence.